Three dead, one missing after boat capsizes in NSW

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A police search has been suspended for a man missing when a catamaran capsized off the New South Wales's south coast, killing two elderly people and a girl.

The 47-year-old man was one of five people on board the 4.9m Shark Cat when it overturned off Maloneys Beach near Batemans Bay on Saturday.

The search resumed yesterday but it was suspended at 1pm when visibility, wind and ocean conditions made it dangerous to continue.

Grave fears are held for the missing man, who was not wearing a lifejacket when the accident occurred.

NSW Ports Minister Duncan Gay said he understood that none of the occupants on the Shark Cat was wearing a lifejacket.

"The challenge is to make people understand accidents can and do happen, and it's essential to wear a lifejacket as a precaution, because when trouble strikes it's generally too late to try and put it on," he said.

"A lifejacket will not save your life unless you wear it.

"Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of those involved."

A 66-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl were pulled from the water on Saturday but could not be revived.

Fishermen are believed to have rescued an 11-year-old girl, who managed to cling to the hull.

The children were on holidays from Victoria with their grandparents, who live in Batemans Bay.

- AAP