Coast Guard Continues To Monitor Haro Strait Sunken Vessel

The Canadian and US Coast Guards continue to monitor the situation after a boat sank over the weekend, leaking fuel on the American side of the Haro Strait.

The Canadian and US Coast Guards continue to monitor the situation after a boat sank over the weekend, leaking fuel on the American side of the Haro Strait.

Conservationists say the incident shouldn't pose a high risk to migrating salmon, but it will depend on the clean-up process.

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation says sockeye returning to the Fraser River will swim deeper than the fuel on the ocean's surface, however toxins may spread through the water and pose a danger to the salmon.

There is also concern for endangered orcas. The foundation's Peter Ross, says the spill has happened in what could be the worst place of all for southern resident killer whales, in the middle of a critical feeding channel.

The fishing vessel was carrying 10-thousand litres of fuel - diesel, gasoline and motor oil and sunk Saturday in U-S waters, 25 kilometres from Vancouver Island.

Five crew members were rescued by a good Samaritan.

The US Coast Guard has divers on site off San Juan Island in attempts at emptying the tanks while booms have been deployed to gather surface oil.