Around town: On our doorstep #VanFuelSpill
RT @vancbcmcarthur: It’s hard to make out but that’s a baby duck covered in oil at Sunset Beach #VanFuelSpill #cbc pic.twitter.com/1KpurqMUi8
— Living Oceans (@living_oceans) April 10, 2015
Vancouverites woke up yesterday morning to news that their beautiful beaches were under threat from an oil spill in English Bay. As of today, the source of the pollution has been identified as a tanker moored offshore, although the exact composition of the spill is still under analysis. The City of Vancouver is issuing regular updates as the situation unfolds, urging residents to stay off the sand and not attempt cleanup by themselves.
MT @CityofVancouver Want to help? Register online: http://t.co/oUU2a8JGEH Don’t just go to beaches: there are health risks. #VanFuelSpill
— Bif Naked (@bifnaked) April 10, 2015
Reports are now coming in showing that wildlife is also involved. Although warning signs advise the public not to use the beaches, there is no way to stop birds landing or marine mammals from swimming in the contaminated waters. Scientists from the Vancouver Aquarium are monitoring the situation, ready to assist in rescue or protection. This CBC Radio 1 interview with Peter Ross, Ocean Pollution Research Program director and senior scientist at the Vancouver Aquarium, gives more details (starts at around the 1:28:30 mark).
Warning signs only went up today. Too bad birds can’t read. Latest on #vanfuelspill #ctvnewsnoon pic.twitter.com/Xd4ADkVolg — Mi-Jung Lee (@ctvmijunglee) April 10, 2015
While response teams are quickly recovering spilled fuel, marine life is the concern now. #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/s16zc5gY9a — Vancouver Aquarium (@vanaqua) April 10, 2015
We’ve found oil in Ambleside. Call our Rescue Centre at 604 258 SEAL if you see oiled wildlife http://t.co/Dwsji1eUm9 pic.twitter.com/o6Tdt5Jw9g — Vancouver Aquarium (@vanaqua) April 10, 2015
Resident or visitor, near or far, if you’d like to stay up-to-date with what’s happening check out these local resources we’ve rounded up.
- On Twitter, clue in to the #VanFuelSpill hashtag
- Sign up for cleanup duty with the City of Vancouver
- Get regular updates from Dr. Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre, on her Facebook page
- Follow the City of Vancouver emergency Twitter list for news from other providers
- Check out these Vancouver Sun images
See fuel on shore? Wildlife in distress? Other #VanFuelSpill issues? Call 604-873-7000: concerns will be passed to Coast Guard.
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) April 10, 2015
Update #VanFuelSpill: For sightings of affected wildlife call 604-873-7000. @CityofVancouver handling calls & will forward to responders
— BC SPCA / BCSPCA (@BC_SPCA) April 10, 2015
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