U.S Navy Refuses To Raise Sunken Fishing Boat & Recover Remains Of 6 Crew At Sea

The U.S. Navy has officially denied a request to salvage the Lily Jean, a 72-foot commercial fishing vessel that sank in Atlantic waters earlier this year, taking the lives of 7 people on board.

The Gloucester-based vessel went down on the morning of January 30, 2026, approximately 22 miles off the coast of Cape Ann.

The body of Captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo was recovered shortly after the sinking; 6 others, including 5 crew members and one NOAA Fisheries observer, are believed to remain trapped within the wreckage.

The unrecovered victims include Freeman Short, Jada Samitt, Sean Therrien, Paul Beal Sr., his son Paul “PJ” Beal Jr., and John Paul Rousanidis.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr wrote to the Navy in May, requesting military assistance to recover the remains of the crew and retrieve the boat’s hard drive and video recorder, which could provide clues regarding why the vessel sank.

However, in a letter dated July 27, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao informed state officials that the Navy would not conduct a recovery operation.

“We are deeply sympathetic toward the families affected by this tragedy. However, the U.S. Navy is unable to fulfil your request for salvage and recovery,” Cao wrote.

Cao explained that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), which are jointly investigating the incident, had not requested the Navy’s assistance.

Cao also cited the Salvage Facilities Act, pointing out that any Navy salvage operations would require external contracting and funding on a reimbursable basis.

The Navy’s refusal has sparked disappointment from local officials and left the victims’ grieving families divided. State Senator Bruce Tarr publicly characterised the Navy’s decision as “disappointing” and vowed to keep advocating for the families.

Within the Gloucester community, relatives of the lost crew members remain torn over whether the wreckage should be disturbed.

For some, raising the boat is the only path to peace; the sister of crew member John Paul Rousanidis has stated that bringing the Lily Jean to the surface is essential to finding definitive answers and giving the families closure.

Conversely, other families have expressed a desire to leave the site untouched. Relatives of Paul Beal Sr. and his son, P.J., indicated they support the Navy’s stance, preferring that their loved ones remain at rest at sea.

Meanwhile, the NTSB and the Coast Guard have confirmed that their official investigation into the incident is ongoing.