A search for a reported missing boater who fired flares off the Mattapoisett coast has been suspended due to lack of evidence, a representative of the United States Coast Guard said on Friday, December 1.

A distress call was made around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, near Naskatucket Bay in Mattapoisett. According to a social media post by Mattapoisett's Fire Department, there were two reports of flare sightings in the same general area.

A shore-based crew was also dispatched to walk the beach area and inside the state park to ensure no one was stranded on shore. Nothing was found in the search.

The United States Coast Guard postponed searching for the vessel until 7 a.m. on November 30, when the search resumed in the waters between Falmouth and Cuttyhunk. No trace of a missing boater or boat was ever found.

Other town departments assisting in the search included the Fairhaven Fire Department, Fairhaven Harbormaster, New Bedford Fire Department, United States Coast Guard Station Woods Hole, United States Coast Guard Air Wing and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.