Concerns for the health of marine and mammal life in the area of western San Juan Island remain where the 15-metre fishing vessel, Aleutian Isle, went down last Saturday with an estimated 9,800 litres of fuel. The oil sheen from a sunken boat appears to have dissipated and the Canadian Coast Guard confirmed no oil or diesel has reached Canadian waters.
The vessel now lies in 60 metres of water near San Juan Island in Haro Strait, about 25 kilometres east of Victoria, and the depth is complicating efforts to assess the wreck and pump out remaining fuel. More than 1,100 metres of absorbent boom has been placed throughout the affected area, south to Kanaka Bay and north to the tip of Henry Island. The booms will remain as a precautionary measure. The local salmon fishery opened yesterday amid the response efforts. While a 1,000-yard safety zone remains in effect, there are no additional restrictions as a result of the incident.
