Cleanup is now complete following a diesel spill near the Green Island Lighthouse, northwest of Prince Rupert and just off the coast of Lax Kw’alaams. The spill, reported on June 3rd, released an estimated 4,600 liters of diesel fuel from a tank at the lighthouse into surrounding land and marine areas.
Response teams say there is now no visible sheen on the shoreline, rocks, or sea surface. A unified command—including the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, BC’s Ministry of Environment, and local First Nations—was formed to manage the response. Over the next two weeks, teams will collect samples from seabirds, eggs, sediment, seaweed, and water to determine whether the harvest exclusion zone can be lifted.
The Lax Kw’alaams Band has expressed deep concern about the environmental impact, stressing that many community members depend on these waters for food, culture, and livelihood. Mayor Garry Reece says the spill highlights the urgent need for stronger environmental safeguards and full transparency.
Officials say more information will be released once testing is complete and the ecological impact is better understood.
For now, the harvest ban remains in effect as monitoring continues.
