Monday August 15, 2022
Vancouver Sun —
U.S. Coast Guard and federal fisheries officers responded to a sunken fishing vessel Saturday off San Juan Island in Haro Strait, critical habitat for the endangered southern resident killer whales that are reportedly in the area.
The 49-foot boat went down west of Sunset Point with an estimated 9,800 litres of diesel and oil on board, said the United States Coast Guard Pacific Northwest district.
Sunset Point is about 30 nautical miles from Sidney on Vancouver Island, across the international boundary.
All crew on board were rescued by a good Samaritan, the coast guard said.
There were immediate concerns that the spill would affect the southern resident killer whale, whose population has struggled and is down to just 74 animals.