A man is missing after the canoe he was fishing in on Lake Erie capsized.

The man was fishing alone in the canoe when his friends on the shore saw the vessel capsize. The man was not wearing a life jacket and may not have been a strong swimmer.

Police say the search began around 5 p.m. Sunday in the waters of Lake Erie east of Essex County Road 45, Kingsville and included the Essex County and Chatham OPP marine units, Kingsville Fire Department, EMS, and RCC Trenton.

"I think at this point we can confirm that this is a recovery mission," says OPP Const. Jim Root.

OPP spent Monday looking for the 25-year-old Mexican National.

"He had friends on shore that witnessed the capsizing of the canoe," says Root.

Police set up a mobile command unit at the Leamington Marina to coordinate the search.

The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and helicopter joined in the recovery efforts.