‘Human error’ cited as up to 8,000 litres of diesel spilled off B.C. coast

Human error during a fuel transfer at a fish farm off the west coast of British Columbia has resulted in a spill into the water of up to 8,000 litres of diesel.

Human error during a fuel transfer at a fish farm off the west coast of British Columbia has resulted in a spill into the water of up to 8,000 litres of diesel.

The B.C. government said in a report on its website that the spill happened Saturday at the Grieg Seafood fish farm near Zeballos, on the northwest side of Vancouver Island.

The report said the company has placed an absorbent boom around the spill site, but natural resources consultants say they haven’t been able to find any recoverable diesel on the water.

It said a visible sheen has been seen north and west of the spill site and the Canadian Coast Guard has sent out an advisory to other mariners to avoid the area of the spill.

The government said it is co-ordinating the clean-up with Grieg Seafood, the group Strategic Natural Resources Consultants, leaders in the villages of Zeballos and Tahsis, and the Ehattesaht and Nuchatlaht First Nations.

It said the Ehattesaht First Nation has issued a clam harvesting alert and closure in the Zeballos Inlet.

The nation’s chief, Simon John, said in a statement on Monday that the whole event left him sad as he watched fuel sloshing around their territory and washing up on the beaches where they harvest their food.

“It is clam season and our people should be out there digging on these low winter tides. We have done this forever and this year we have to close some beaches,” said John.