Six kilometres of beach were affected by English Bay fuel spill: Vancouver city manager

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver City Council has been hearing more details of the response to the fuel spill in English Bay last week.

City Manager Penny Ballem says 40 square metres of oil remains under the Marathassa and small amounts of fuel continued to leak up until yesterday.

She says 4,000 Vancouverites have offered to help, but because of the risks, the Coast Guard has been asking people to leave to clean-up to the professionals.

Ballem says six kilometres of beach have been affected by the spill, noting Crab Beach, New Brighton Park, Stanley Park, English Bay, and beaches on the North Shore were “oiled” and are now being treated.

She adds the spill has caused limited — but not insignificant — effects to wildlife.

Yesterday, we heard from Environment Canada that 15 to 20 birds were affected.

“This was a small spill, there’s no doubt about it,” Ballem told council, adding mild weather made for a “best case scenario” for the clean-up efforts.

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