A 72-foot Gloucester fishing vessel, the Lily Jean, sank about 20 miles off Cape Ann on January 30, leaving seven crew members missing and one body recovered as Coast Guard teams conducted an expansive search spanning more than 1,000 square miles.

Environmental Police used side-scan sonar to map the seafloor and hope to deploy a remotely operated vehicle for photos and video, though rough seas have slowed progress.

The victims include Captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo and crew members Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien, and fisheries observer Jada Samitt from NOAA.

Officials stress the investigation aims to identify safety improvements and prevent future tragedies rather than assign blame, with a public website to share findings as the inquiry progresses.

The inquiry, conducted by federal, state, and local investigators, seeks probable cause and prevention strategies and will release updates over months via the public site.

A briefing will outline the ongoing multi-agency inquiry and discuss support services being offered to the families.

Families urge respect for the missing crew and caution against speculation, asking that answers come from the investigation, not rumors.

Massachusetts officials and Gloucester leaders call for patience and share updates as families cope, emphasizing the importance of avoiding misinformation.

The Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial will later honor all victims, with the community focusing on locating the vessel and understanding the sinking’s causes.

Community figures, including Senator Bruce Tarr, stress the emotional toll and the need to preserve accurate information to prevent rumors.

The investigation is a coordinated effort among the Coast Guard, NOAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board, described as thorough and time-consuming to produce credible answers.

If wreckage is found, authorities may deploy a tethered unmanned robot for inspection and will coordinate with families on next steps.