QUILCENE — Community member, advocate and Quilcene fisherman Joel Kawahara, 70, has been lost at sea.

U.S. Coast Guard crews searched more than 2,100 square miles over 18 hours and suspended their search for Kawahara on Aug. 13, according to a press release.

Kawahara had departed alone from Neah Bay on Aug. 8 and was last heard from that morning. Coast Guard watchstanders made repeated callouts, and aircraft crews flew over the vessel’s trackline but received no response.

On Aug. 12, an aircrew observed Joel’s boat, the F/V Karolee, was rigged for fishing with its lights on and life raft stowed, but they saw no signs of distress.

The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion intercepted the vessel on the morning of Aug. 13 and confirmed no one was aboard and all safety equipment was still present. T

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