AFTER being left behind following a dramatic air ambulance rescue, a fishing boat has sat at the cliffs below Hanlon parade since February.

Many would remember the rescue itself, when emergency services gathered at the top of the cliff to try and come up with a way to get to the 85-year-old boat owner in need of medical assistance, and an uninjured 45-year-old on board with him.

A large crowd of onlookers had amassed in time to watch by the time the helicopter was called in to winch the older man out.

Since then, the boat has remained where it was blown ashore, and while the owner has removed the engine and fuel cell, it is also his responsibility to salvage the hull.

“DEECA is the responsible land manager for this section of coastline,” a department spokesperson told the Observer.

“We are working with other authorities, including Victoria Police, to determine the appropriate next steps.”

Where it is not possible for the owner to get the boat out, authorities will take over.

A spokesperson from the Portland Coast Guard said it might not be such an easy job, depending on the damage the boat has after months of the swell bashing it against the rocks.

Salvagers also have to contend with a shallow, rocky shoreline, with difficulty accessing the boat from land.