A Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard search and rescue mission yielded great success as nine missing fishermen were safely brought to shore on Friday (July 5).

The previously thought 11 fishermen were stranded along the shallow banks of the Morant Cays south-southeast of St Thomas. The men have since been reunited with their families.

The JDF, in a statement today, indicated that worsening maritime conditions related to the passage of Hurricane Beryl made it difficult for the men to chart a course to the mainland.

According to the JDF Coast Guard, the men departed the Cow Bay area of St Andrew on June 29 in three canoes and were expected back on July 2.

When the fishermen failed to return and efforts to reach them were futile, Coast Guard personnel were contacted and a search operation was launched yesterday when operational status was greenlit following Hurricane Beryl.

The search and rescue operation was conducted by the JDF’s Maritime Air and Cyber Command.