Worst feared for fishermen missing off WA

Hopes are fading for three fishermen missing off Western Australia's Pilbara coast.

Their 13-metre-long prawn trawler named the Returner failed to come back to Point Samson near Karratha on Wednesday morning as expected.

An unused life raft, emergency locator beacon, ration supplies and fishing gear washed up along the Burrup Peninsula the next day.

The vessel and its crew, Mason Carter, 26, Chad Fairley, 30, and 57-year-old Murray Turner, are yet to be found.

On top of an aerial search, a boat-based search and a land search on Dolphin Island and along the Burrup Peninsular, underwater sonar equipment is being used.

The Department of Fisheries has also provided last available location data from the Vessel Monitoring System, which is usually used to ensure compliance with commercial fishing regulations, not for safety purposes.

Police said Mr Carter and Mr Fairley, from Kalbarri and Moresby respectively, were very fit and good swimmers.

But Mr Turner, from Waggrakine, is not as fit.

"We're hoping by the grace of the Lord that they've made it to the island," Mr Fairley's father Alan told the ABC.

"They will be hungry and parched but it's better than the other option."

Police said no mayday call was received and locator beacons weren't activated.