WA prawn trawler recovery planned

Authorities will try to recover a prawn trawler that sank off Western Australia's Pilbara coast with three fishermen on board.

Mason Carter, 26, Chad Fairley, 30, and 57-year-old skipper Murray Turner failed to come back to Point Samson near Karratha in their 13-metre trawler, named the Returner, on July 15 as expected.

The trawler was found on August 2 with the body of Mr Turner still on board, but the other two men have not been found.

Police and personnel from agencies including the Australian Maritime Safety and local subsea recovery specialists Bhagwan Marine will start the final phase of the recovery operation for the vessel on Thursday.

The operation will be complex and there are many safety considerations, police say.

WA Police Pilbara Inspector Garry Nicolau said he hoped resurfacing the Returner would provide answers as to what made the vessel sink.

"There are families still seeking answers, still searching to find out what happened out at sea," he said.

A 500m exclusion zone around the wreckage site will remain in place throughout the recovery operation.