Family resigned to fisherman's fate

The Governor fishing vessel. Photo / Supplied

The family of missing fisherman Kevin Cosgrove have accepted it is unlikely his body will be recovered from his sunken vessel the Governor.

Cousin and spokeswoman for the Cosgrove family in Bluff and Invercargill, Cathy Culling, said she and Mr Cosgrove's parents, Jim and Mona, knew that when he was not found within 24 hours, they would not see him again.

"Jim's quite resigned to the fact they won't retrieve him; we won't get him back."

The vessel, skippered by Mr Cosgrove, ran into trouble in Fiordland on September 15 and it was confirmed last week the wreckage was lying 2.5km off Yates Point.

Mr Cosgrove (60), of Dobson, and his crewman, Nirvana Reynolds (16), of Blackball, have not been found.

Mrs Cosgrove had always been terrified of her son's occupation, worrying every time a boat went down in Fiordland, Mrs Culling said.

"This has been hard on her."

Mr Cosgrove's son and daughter, Wade and Hayley, had been in close contact with their grandparents since the tragedy.

Mr Cosgrove retired from fishing two years ago to manage a pub in Dobson on the West Coast, but his passion for the sea brought him back to skipper the Governor for the last six months.

"He's always gone back to the sea. He has always had something about boats.

"He was a confident seaman.

"The sea takes, but it doesn't give."

The weather has hindered dramatically the search. The police dive squad has been unable to reach the wreckage with sonar equipment that would determine if the pair's bodies were still on the boat.

Mrs Culling said the family accepted the weather had played a leading role and understood the search and rescue team's inability to locate the pair.

"You can't do the impossible."

The police dive squad visited the site of the wreckage on Thursday and gained footage using a remote operated vehicle.

However, strong underwater sea currents meant the dive squad was only able to get closer shots of one side of the boat.

The boat is lying upright and intact on the sea floor and police will consult the navy's dive team to ascertain its availability and the viability of using its resources to reach the wreckage.

The navy has the capability to dive to lower depths using a compression chamber.

Mrs Culling said the family would hold a memorial service for Mr Cosgrove soon.