The search for a trawler man who went overboard six miles out to sea in Cardigan Bay yesterday (Thursday) has been called off.

Emergency services, including both Cardigan lifeboats, the Newquay lifeboat and and RAF rescue helicopter scoured the area around Cemaes Head until 6pm last night.

Nine local fishing boats and a chemical tanker also joined in the search.

They were called to the scene at 1.15pm by the skipper of the Maggie Ann, a Scottish scalloping boat that had been working out of Milford Haven for the last four months.

He had seen the crewman fall overboard while the vessel was hauling dredges. The skipper turned the vessel and threw a life ring to the crewman who was then seen to sink below the surface.

After a five and a half hours the search for the missing crew man, a 38-year-old Romanian, was called off.

The crewman was not wearing a lifejacket which coastguards said hindered his chance of survival, as did the very cold water temperatures at this time of year.

Coastguards said that they will not resume the search unless new information comes to light.

The police and the maritime accident investigation branch are involved in an investigation into the accident.

"It's the most dangerous job in the world," said a coastguard spokesman. " Our condolences and thoughts are with the family of the missing fishermen and also with his colleagues on the Maggie Ann."