A commercial fishing vessel, carrying a crew of seven, is presumed to have sunk off the Massachusetts coast, prompting an intensive, round-the-clock search by the U.S. Coast Guard. Rescuers are battling howling winds and frigid temperatures in their efforts to locate survivors.

The 72-foot Lily Jean issued an alert early on Friday morning, approximately 25 miles off the port of Gloucester. Following the distress signal, Coast Guard teams quickly located a debris field near the alert, alongside the grim discovery of a body in the water.

Coast Guard Commander Timothy Jones, who is coordinating the ongoing search and rescue operation, affirmed their commitment. He stated: “We will continue to search throughout the night with the cutter, hoping to find additional folks as we continue.” Commander Jones indicated that the vessel was “coming back in full of fish” and may have encountered issues with its fishing gear, necessitating a return for repairs.

Despite the severe conditions, Commander Jones maintained that they are “always hoping to find” survivors from the vessel. However, Sector Boston Commander Jamie Frederick offered a more sobering assessment, acknowledging the “challenging” problems inherent in searching for individuals in the open water after a vessel has gone down.

open image in gallery

“That is the equivalent of searching for a coconut in the ocean,” Frederick said.

Captain, crew were featured on TV show

The Lily Jean, its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show Nor’Easter Men. Sanfilippo is described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in the Georges Bank. The crew is shown working in dangerous weather conditions for hours on end, spending as many as 10 days at sea on one trip fishing for haddock, lobster and flounder.

Gloucester is often described as America’s oldest working seaport, with a fishing industry that goes back more than 400 years.

The city, where the reality television show “Wicked Tuna” about Atlantic bluefin tuna fishermen was based, has been the site of maritime tragedy over the years. Among them was the FV Andrea Gail, which went missing at sea in 1991. The loss of the Andrea Gail was the basis of the 1997 book and 2000 movie “The Perfect Storm.” In another tragedy, four fishermen died when the Emmy Rose sank in 2020 off Provincetown, Massachusetts. on its way to Gloucester.

Republican State Sen. Bruce Tarr, who confirmed seven people were on the vessel, grew emotional as he talked about Sanfilippo, who was a good friend.

“He’s a person that has a big smile, and he gives you a warm embrace when he sees you,” Tarr said. “He is very, very skilled at what he does.”

Tarr said the “fact that vessel now rests at the bottom of the ocean is very hard to understand.” But he expected the community would come together as it always has with such tragedies.

“This is a community that has felt this type of loss in the past,” Tarr said. “I’m going to make a prediction. Tonight, tomorrow and the days that follow, no matter what happens, you’re going to see the strength, strength that has made this the most historic fishing port in the United States.”

Vito Giacalone, head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, said he knows Sanfilippo from the captain’s early days in commercial fishing and knew him as a hard worker from a fishing family. He said he and the fishing industry in Gloucester, a community where commercial fishing is a longstanding way of life, are distraught.

“He did well for himself. I was proud of him,” Giacalone said. “And now the dock we own, he ties his boat at the dock so we see him every day. He’s been to all my kids’ weddings. That’s how close we were. I feel a sense of loss. A lot of us do.”

Commercial fishing is a hazardous profession

Deep-sea fishing in New England can always be hazardous, but it can be especially dangerous in the winter because of high waves, frigid temperatures and unpredictable weather. Commercial fishing is often cited as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

“Commercial fishing is a really tough living to begin with, and it’s as safe as the elements and all of the things allow it to be,” Giacalone said. “Gus was a very seasoned experienced fisherman.”

Everett Sawyer, 55, a childhood friend of Sanfilippo, said that he is still processing the news of his disappearance. “He was hardworking. He loved fishing,” he said.

After more than five decades living and working near the Atlantic Ocean, Sawyer said he has known 25 people who were lost at sea. Cold winter conditions can complicate operations even for experienced sailors, Sawyer said.

“Things happen very quickly when you’re out on the ocean,” he said.

Steve Ouellette, an attorney who works with fishermen in Gloucester, agreed that commercial fishermen have a “tough life and unfortunately these things happen.” “Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen it, you’re never ready for it when a boat with a crew goes down,” Ouellette said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Friday it was aware that there was a fishery observer on board the vessel. Fishery observers are workers who collect data on board fishing boats for the government to use to inform regulations.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy. NOAA Fisheries is committed to the safety and well-being of observers. As part of this ongoing commitment, we are providing assistance and support,” NOAA spokesperson Sean McNally said

The Coast Guard said it tried unsuccessfully to contact the vessel early Friday and then launched a search that included an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a small boat crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay. It expected to have the cutter out all night and a fixed-wing airplane in the morning searching for survivors, Jones said.

At the time of the emergency alert, the National Weather Service said wind speeds out at sea were around 27 mph (24 knots) with waves around four feet high. It was 12 degrees (-11 Celsius) with water temperatures about 39 degrees (4 degrees Celsius.)

Gloucester Council President Tony Gross, a retired fisherman who had joined other elected officials at the harbor in the city after learning of the missing boat, called it a “huge tragedy for this community.”

“The families are just devastated at this point,” Gross said. “They are half full of hope and half full of dread, I would imagine.”

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she was “heartbroken” to hear about the boat’s sinking.

“I am praying for the crew, and my heart goes out to their loved ones and all Gloucester fishing families during this awful time,” she said in a statement. “Fishermen and fishing vessels are core to the history, economy and culture of Gloucester and Cape Ann, and this tragedy is felt all across the state.”

Gross described conditions on the water as “fishable” but that it wouldn’t take much for ice to build up on the vessel. “That is what people are thinking right now, that there was ice buildup and that made the boat unstable,” he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is frantically searching Massachusetts waters for survivors after a commercial fishing boat with seven people on board, including a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observer, sank Friday 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann.

Coast Guard watchstanders received an emergency position indicating a radio beacon (EPIRB) alert at about 6:50 a.m. registered to the 72-foot commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean.

USCG crews attempted to contact the boat, and after getting no response, issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB), according to officials.

USCG Northeast District launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod and a small boat crew from Station Gloucester to search the area.

COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR SURVIVORS AFTER US STRIKES SUSPECTED NARCO-TERRORIST VESSELS IN EASTERN PACIFIC

The Coast Guard cutter Thunder Bay was also diverted to assist the search. 

Rescue crews found debris near the location where the EPIRB was activated, along with a body and an unoccupied life raft.

The Coast Guard said crews will continue with the search and rescue response.

EIGHT PEOPLE RESCUED FROM SINKING BOAT AFTER RUNNING LOW ON FUEL IN ROUGH MIAMI WATERS

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the state has offered its full support.

“I’m heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester about the sinking of the Lily Jean and have offered our full support to Mayor Lundberg, Harbormaster Lucido and the Coast Guard,” Healey wrote in a statement. “I am praying for the crew, and my heart goes out to their loved ones and all Gloucester fishing families during this awful time.

“Fishermen and fishing vessels are core to the history, economy and culture of Gloucester and Cape Ann, and this tragedy is felt all across the state.”

COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR 77-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WENT OVERBOARD ON HOLLAND AMERICA LINE CRUISE SHIP

The boat’s captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show “Nor’Easter Men,” highlighting a fishing expedition in dangerous weather conditions, according to a report from The Associated Press. 

Sanfilippo, a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, angled for haddock, lobster and flounder, according to the report.

State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, told the outlet he was friends with the missing captain.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“He’s a person that has a big smile, and he gives you a warm embrace when he sees you,” Tarr told the AP. “He is very, very skilled at what he does. … I’m going to make a prediction. Tonight, tomorrow and the days that follow, you’re going to see strength. The strength that has made this the most historic fishing port in the United States of America.”

Gloucester, Massachusetts, is a coastal city about 30 miles north of Boston, on Cape Ann.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

It’s not every day that a third-grader earns media credentials for the biggest game in American sports, but for one Massachusetts student, the Super Bowl is about to become his next big story.

Nine-year-old Louis Divito, of Westminster, was named Panini America’s 2026 Super Bowl Kid Reporter, landing an all-access pass to Super Bowl LX.

Selected from more than 187,000 applicants nationwide, Divito will spend Super Bowl week covering the NFL’s biggest stage not just as a fan, but as a working reporter.

As part of Panini America’s annual sweepstakes, Divito will interview NFL players from the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks and take part in opening night festivities alongside former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer. He’ll also attend exclusive Panini events, open trading card packs with current and former players, and soak in game day experience at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.

A lifelong New England fan, the trip carries extra meaning — he’ll be accompanied by his father, John Divito, also a Patriots diehard. Between school, sports, and a fast-growing trading card collection, his enthusiasm for the game has already set him apart. Now, he’s ready to bring that energy to the national stage — one question at a time.

We caught up with Louis ahead of his Super Bowl correspondent debut.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

Boston.com: Louis, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Louis: My name is Louis. I’m nine years old. I play football, I play baseball, I play basketball. I play hockey, swim, and ski. I like doing Legos. And I have three sisters and two parents.

What do you like about being a Patriots fan?

I like that the team’s in the Super Bowl. I also like that the Patriots are a really good team, and it’s my home team. I also like that I get to go to the Super Bowl. They’re really good. And I love blue and red … and white, but white’s not my favorite.

What was your reaction when you found out that you were going to the Super Bowl?

Screaming and not much sleep. Thinking and thinking and questions. A hundred billion questions — like, a lot of questions.

You’re going to get to interview the players at the Super Bowl. How are you feeling about that?

I’m nervous for the part where I have to ask questions. But I’m also really excited to go to the Super Bowl, and California, and spend time with my dad, and the hot weather, and meeting my favorite players. 

Who are you most excited to talk to?

I have five players in mind: Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, Will Campbell, Christian Gonzalez, and Mack Hollins.

How do you feel about getting to talk to the Seahawks?

I feel good, I think it’s just fun to talk to any NFL player, even if I’m not rooting for them. But I’d definitely choose talking to the Patriots over the Seahawks.

What do the Patriots have to do to win?

Play really good defense. And pass the ball and catch the ball and not slip and fall on the ground, and score touch downs, and really tackle people hard. And we want to sack the [Seahawks] quarterback really hard, and don’t let him score anything.

If the Patriots do win the Super Bowl, how will you celebrate?

We’ll go to the hotel and celebrate and do so much stuff. We’ll go to dinner … and open the car windows, and we’ll dance, probably play karaoke on TV in our room. And we’ll go to the beach and scream at the sea lions.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.