Jersey Police have confirmed the body recovered from the wreck of the L'Ecume II, is Michael Michieli.

A body recovered by a team of specialist divers on 26 April has been formally identified as the skipper who went missing six months ago.

His family have been informed and the police have expressed their deepest sympathies at this difficult time.

Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore says her thoughts and prayers are with the Michielis, Michael’s friends and the fishing community.  

“As we continue to grieve for Michael, I hope today’s news of Michael’s body being recovered will begin to allow some closure for those closest to him.

As an Island community, and as Michael returns home to Jersey where he can rest in peace, we will all continue to support them in the weeks and months ahead.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the teams involved in the recovery operation who have found Michael and returned him to his family."

Search operations for the 62-year-old have been ongoing since his fishing trawler collided with the Commodore Goodwill freight ship on 8 December 2022.

The bodies of his crew, Jervis Baligat and Larry Simyun, were found a week after the vessel went down.

The fishing boat has suffered break-up and is being lifted from the seabed and taken to La Collette in sections as the recovery operation continues.

The maritime incident is being investigated by Jersey Police (Operation Nectar).