Canadian Coast Guard responds to oil spill off Vancouver Island

The Canadian Coast Guard responded to an oil spill off the north coast of Vancouver Island, the second spill in the area in a week.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada says a crew was dispatched Friday afternoon to an area near the Port Harvey Marina, south of Port McNeill. 

Members will deploy sorbent pads if necessary as an initial response measure, B.C.'s Ministry of Environment said.

The DFO confirmed an oil slick has developed and estimates around 178-litres of fuel is in the water. 

Tlowitsis First Nation councillor Thomas Smith says a diesel tank allegedly didn’t have a proper dam around it and the impact to shellfish is the main concern.

The Ministry of Environment says a concerned citizen reported fuel on the beach and in the water near the marina.

The owner of the marina was contacted by the Environmental Emergency Response Officer.

The source of the spill is not yet known.

Transport Canada conducted an overflight of the area on Friday afternoon.

According to the DFO, the spill is not recoverable.

The Coast Guard will remain on scene to monitor the situation.

This is the second oil spill off the north coast in less than a week.

About 600 litres of fuel spilled at a fish farm in Echo Bay on Sunday.