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An autopsy will take place today on a fishing boat skipper whose body was discovered in Southland's Bluff harbour yesterday.
A search and rescue operation was launched after the 56-year-old Auckland-based skipper of the scampi boat Adelaide Pearl was reported missing about 7.30pm on Wednesday.
Search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Ian Martin told the Southland Times the search resumed at first light yesterday, with police divers called in about midday.
One diver at a time took part in the search, on a rope, as visibility in the water was "next to nothing", he said.
The dive squad found the man's body at 4pm yesterday, about 40m from his boat.
Police said that the skipper's name would not be released until next of kin had been informed. The death was not being treated as as suspicious.
Three crew were believed to be on board at the time of the incident, Mr Martin said.
- NZPA
