Fishermen rescued

The Nadi Rescue Coordination Centre said the men set off a distress signal around 4pm on Saturday about 144 kilometres south of Funafuti.

A New Zealand PC3 Orion located the men and their six metre skiff a few kilometres from where they set off their personal locator beacon.

They were then picked up by a merchant vessel the MV Talomoana around 4 on Sunday afternoon.

It is understood the vessel was now returning the men to Tuvalu.

The rescue coordination centre is awaiting a final report on the incident from the Tuvalu government.

“We must all respect the Sea and its many moods. Exercising common sense and doing basic stuff like checking the weather forecast, carrying beacons, flares, auxiliary engine, and having the means to talk to the shore are basic safety practices,” Caldwell said in a statement.

“Feeding your family by catching fish is important but more important is coming back from the sea to feed them again.”

Caldwell made the comments as authorities rescued six fishermen who were missing at sea for three days.

The men went out on Monday near Fonoi Ha'apai and were expected back on Tuesday night.

Tonga police sought help from the New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the United States Coastguard to try and locate the men.

The US Coastguard used a Hercules aircraft returning from a Search and Rescue conference in Auckland.

The plane found the boat last night and the men were rescued by a Tongan navy vessel early this morning.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand organised for the German cruise ship Albatros to change course at 5am Saturday morning, after the fishing vessel crew set off an emergency rescue beacon 400 kilometres west south west of Tonga.

The ship diverted 300 kilometres to help the distressed 11.5 metre fishing vessel. RCCNZ also requested an RNZAF P3 Orion to fly from Whenuapai to the position that the beacon was transmitting from.