The body of a New Jersey oysterman who fell off a boat in Delaware Bay earlier this month has been recovered, according to authorities.

The Coast Guard received a Mayday call from the fishing boat the Bon Secour on April 9 about the missing oysterman, Matthew Oliver, 47, and began the first of 10 searches, covering 77 square nautical miles. Oliver was reported missing shortly after noon. The boat was near Gandy’s Beach, five miles southeast of Newport, New Jersey.

After the searches, the Coast Guard suspended their efforts, saying it would resume if new information emerged. Family and friends spent days along the Bayshore looking for any signs of him. Oliver was a seasoned oysterman who spent his life on the water, according to his loved ones.

On April 21, commercial watermen discovered the body a mile offshore, near Bower Beach in Kent County, Delaware, according to Delaware State Police. He was identified by his daughter, Nicolette Klaitz, and medical examiners determined the cause of death.

His partner Melanie Dawn posted on Facebook, "You will forever be in our hearts, you will be missed more than you can ever imagine. You’re our angel now, spread your wings and fly high... til we meet again..”

Klaitz remembered her dad as a loving father of three who treasured his time on the water, according to New Jersey.com. “He was a very caring person and he loved all of us,” she said. “He loved the water, he loved fishing, oystering. Just being on the water in general.”