The search has resumed in Indonesia for survivors of an asylum seeker boat that sank in heavy seas off the coast of Java yesterday.

Eight people died when the boat capsized near the coastal town of Pangandaran, but dozens more were rescued. Up to 15 people are still missing.

Bad weather and darkness had forced the search to be suspended late yesterday.

But while the weather has improved today, the prospect of finding survivors looks grim.

Local authorities have been meeting to discuss the search efforts but they are concerned about things such as tidal movements having swept people away.

This morning Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said it was "very clear" the nine-metre boat was heading to Australia.

Local authorities say the people on board were from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The deputy police commissioner for the area, Agus Santoso, told the ABC bad weather and overcrowding may have contributed to the accident.

There are reports the local fishermen's association had been warning for days that conditions were too rough to go out in.

Sorry, this video has expired Chris Bowen talks to ABC News Breakfast

This morning Mr Bowen said the rescue operation was now likely to turn into a recovery operation for bodies.

"I think we can tragically assume that many, if not most of those people who are missing, will be very very difficult to recover alive," he told ABC News Breakfast this morning.

"The Indonesian authorities to my knowledge have not requested any assistance," he added.

"They are perfectly capable of handling a situation such as this, [and] of course we talk to them, because it's very clear this boat was heading to Australia.

"So we do have a very real and clear interest."

Speaking late yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the sinking "underscores the absolute dire need to put in the strongest possible deterrent."

"We have seen too many people lured onto unseaworthy vessels," he said.

"It really is a time for reflection on this awful tragedy; we need to send our thoughts and prayers to the families of those people who have perished."

Rescuers approach a capsized boat carrying asylum seekers on the coast of Pangandaran in Indonesia's West Java province on November 1, 2011. At least seven asylum seekers drowned and scores more were missing when the boat sunk. ( AFP: Pikiran Rakyat/Nurhandoko Wiyoso )

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the news was of great concern.

"We send our thoughts to those who are directly affected and also we thank in advance the Indonesian authorities for what will be their cooperation in seeking to understand what has occurred here," he said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said news of the deaths was "awful" and said the situation showed how desperate asylum seekers are.

"What this clearly shows is that we need to be offering safer pathways for people to reach protection and to ensure that they can seek asylum in a safe way," she said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has confirmed another boat carrying 92 asylum seekers has arrived at Christmas Island.

The President of the Christmas Island Shire, Gordon Thomson, says the boat is in Flying Fish Cove with people still onboard.

He says Navy personnel are with the boat.