Friends of a Tasmanian man who is missing in Japanese waters after a livestock carrier capsized after encountering a typoon have called on the government to support search efforts.
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William Mainprize, 27, was one of 43 crew members onboard the Gulf Livestock 1 which ran into Typoon Haishen last week.
Two men were found during air and sea searches though one of them reportedly later died in Hospital.
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The Japanese Coast Guard announced two days ago it would downgrade the search for the missing sailors to a regular patrol after finding no further signs of survival.
Long-time friend Tom Suttor said he believed the coast guard has resources constraits which had caused the downgrade..
He said given two Australians were onboard the carrier - the other being 25-year-old Lukas Orda - the Australian Government needed to step up and offer whatever assistance was needed.
A change.org petition has been launched by Mr Mainprize's friends and family, demanding full-scale search efforts resume.
The petition has been signed by 12,571 people so far.
More than 6000 animals were onboard the carrier at the time it capsized.