Pressure mounting on Ottawa to salvage capsized Nova Scotia fishing boat
WOODS HARBOUR, N.S. - The pressure is mounting on Ottawa to salvage a capsized fishing vessel that may contain the bodies of five missing Nova Scotia fishermen.
The fathers of two of the fishermen, Stephen Nickerson and George Hopkins, say the 13-metre Miss Ally could also contain answers as to why the boat rolled over Sunday night.
Federal search and rescue officials say it's now up to the RCMP to decide what to do because the case was handed to the Mounties when the search for the men was called off Tuesday.
Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau, a former fisherman, says he has approached federal Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield to determine whether a salvage operation is feasible.
Meanwhile, some fishermen in Woods Harbour say they will use their own vessels to find the partially submerged vessel unless the navy or the coast guard take action.
Pastor Phil Williams at the Calvary United Baptist church in Lower Woods Harbour said the community has rallied behind the families' call for a salvage operation.
