The search continues for missing Beaufort County crabber Michael Hopkins, 53, of Pamlico Beach.

Several emergency agencies, friends and family members are actively searching for Hopkins, whose 23-foot recreation boat was found adrift near Hickory Point, northeast of Aurora, according to Chris Martinez, chief operations specialist with U.S. Coast Guard: Sector North Carolina in Wilmington.

“We’ve been continuing the search, along with other agencies, but we haven’t been able to come up with any luck in our searches yet,” Martinez said.

Martinez said Craven County Fire Department, as well as Sidney Volunteer Fire Department, joined the U.S. Coast Guard, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Bunyon Volunteer Fire Department and Bath Volunteer Fire Department in the search. Bunyon VFD has been using side-scan sonar to search the waters of the Pamlico and its tributaries, and Sidney VFD has sent a dive team out to look for Hopkins, as well.

The search began yesterday around noon after someone reported seeing Hopkins’ boat drifting. U.S. Coast Guard personnel boarded the boat and found a life jacket, gas cans, live crabs and Hopkins’ dog, which he never went anywhere without, according to friends and family.

According to Josh Hopkins, nephew of the victim, Michael Hopkins left to go crabbing shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday, where he was last seen.

“Several emergency agencies and a lot of friends and family are out with personal boats looking and trying to find him,” Josh Hopkins said. “On behalf of the family, we want to thank everyone who is helping and ask everyone to keep us in their prayers. We’re going to look for him until we find him. We extend a big ‘thank you’ to everyone helping in the search.”

If you have information as to the whereabouts of missing crabber Michael Hopkins, please call the U.S. Coast Guard Station Hobucken at 252-745-3131 or the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 252-946-7111.