CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.J. — The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 47-year-old commercial fisherman who went overboard in the Delaware Bay, as his family continues to search the shoreline hoping for answers.
Matthew Oliver, of Millville, disappeared shortly after noon on April 9 while working aboard the oyster boat F/V Bon Secour near Gandy’s Beach, according to the Coast Guard and family members.
Extensive search ends without results
The Coast Guard launched multiple search efforts after receiving a mayday alert from the vessel, deploying crews across a wide stretch of water off Cumberland County.
Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew West said search teams covered 77 square nautical miles over 10 separate searches but found no sign of Oliver.
With no new leads, officials announced the search has been suspended pending further developments.
Family continues shoreline search
Despite the suspension, Oliver’s family has continued searching along the bayshore daily, looking for any trace of the longtime oysterman.
Friends and relatives say the effort is driven by a need for closure, even as the chances of recovery diminish with time.
“We’ve been told several times that we’re not going to find him. We don’t want to hear that,” said Melanie Parent, who described Oliver as a lifelong waterman and father.
The family is also seeking access to a boat to expand their search efforts beyond the shoreline.
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Key Points
• 47-year-old fisherman went overboard April 9 near Gandy’s Beach
• Coast Guard searched 77 square nautical miles across 10 operations
• Family continues independent search despite suspended rescue efforts
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Veteran waterman known for life on the bay
Oliver spent years working on the water and was considered an experienced member of the local fishing community.
Those close to him say he understood the risks of the job and had spoken openly about the dangers faced by commercial fishermen.
He was also a father, and loved ones say his disappearance has left a deep impact on family and friends in the Millville area.
Challenging conditions and uncertainty
Search efforts in open water can be complicated by currents, tides, and weather, all of which can quickly shift a person’s location.
Family members and volunteers are now watching areas along the New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania sides of the bay, where currents could carry debris or remains.
Community asked to stay alert
A flyer circulating locally asks anyone along the bay or shoreline to remain vigilant and report anything that could be connected to Oliver to local police or the New Jersey State Police Port Norris station.
The notice also urges people to document exact locations of any findings to assist investigators.
Current status
The official Coast Guard search remains suspended, and no new developments have been announced as Oliver’s family continues independent efforts to locate him.
