The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) was founded in Cornwall in 1994 following the deaths of two local fishermen whose boat sank within sight of a then recently closed coastguard station at Bass Point. Most of HM Coastguard's visual watch stations were closed following a period of rationalisation and modernisation.[citation needed]. Although never fully admitted or responsibility accepted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or HM Government, it was speculated within the local community that were the watch keepers' station still staffed then the fishermen in distress would have been spotted and assistance sent[citation needed]. Therefore the institution became established from a campaign to re-establish a visual coastal watch in Cornwall. The first NCI Coastwatch station was thus established at Bass Point, on The Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, by November 1994.