A fishing boat with seven crewmembers is missing off the northeast coast of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The 56-foot-long Elite Navigator was due to return to Valleyfield, a small community near New-Wes-Valley in  Bonavista Bay, from a trip in search of turbot on Thursday (July 18), based on a report from the CBC. And, when the boat didn't show up, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) was alerted.

The last known location of the boat was about 160 kilometers northeast of Gander. 

Canadian Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, along with several fishing vessels, are searching an area of ocean about 160 kilometers offshore from the New Wes Valley area, in hopes of locating the Elite Navigator. Screenshot from Google Maps

The CCG said it received a call around 3:30 p.m. NL time on Thursday that the vessel was overdue, and the last contact with anyone on the boat was around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Four CCG vessels, a Cormorant helicopter and a Hercules fixed-wing aircraft launched a search Thursday, but thick fog hampered search efforts.

Several other fishing boats have also joined the effort.

Multiple organizations within the NL fishing and processing industry have expressed their concern for the missing vessel and crew.

Greg Pretty, president of Fish, Food & Allied Workers, the union that represents inshore harvesters, expressed his hopes for the crew to return safe in an interview with the CBC.  The province's fish harvesters, wherever they're from, are tightly connected, he said.

"It's just complete devastation throughout the fishing community," he reportedly told the news service. "There's emotional shock throughout the fishing community. Throughout the province. Throughout every single community in the province. There's trauma. People are extremely upset. People are hoping for the best."

The Association of Seafood Producers, a trade association representing NL's seafood processors, sent a statement quoting executive director Jeff Loder.

"As seafood processors, the safety of fish harvesters is of utmost importance," Loder said. "As the search continues for the Elite Navigator, we hope the seven souls on board are found safely. We know this is a difficult time for New-Wes-Valley and surrounding communities, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those involved."

Ocean Choice International, a major harvester and processor based in NL, tweeted on Friday: "We are thinking about the families, friends and entire fishing community as the search continues for the missing fish harvesters of the Elite Navigator off the coast of NL. We are praying that all return home safely."