Vancouver Coastal Health has given the all-clear to hit the beaches in West Vancouver — as long as it’s not Ambleside or John Lawson Park.
“There’s still cleanup work going on at both locations,” said Jeff McDonald, District of West Vancouver spokesman.
The beaches had been closed since the Marathassa bunker fuel leak on April 9 in English Bay.
Even though the remaining beaches are open, the district is warning small amounts of oil may still appear on the shoreline as the natural tidal cycle dissipates the remaining oil.
“We believe that there is no more oil to come ashore but out of an abundance of caution, we’re reminding people that it’s still possible that they’ll find some small amounts of oil on beaches,” McDonald said.
The City of North Vancouver has also had to post advisories along the waterfront in the Harbourside area warning visitors to avoid the water and shoreline. City staff spotted oil on the rocky shore shortly after it was first seen in West Vancouver. As of Thursday afternoon, the fuel had been cleaned and the warning signs were scheduled to come down.
Any future sightings of oil coming on shore should be reported to Emergency Management BC at 1-800-663-3456.
