F/V Milky Way Capsized and Sank Within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

On September 14 at approximately 7 pm the F/V Milky Way capsized and sank in 200 feet of water within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The FV Milky Way, a purse seiner, was hauling in a catch of sardines when the vessel became unstable and capsized 5 nautical miles from the community of La Push, Washington, in the Quileute Tribe's Usual and Accustomed fishing area. The sanctuary was notified by the US Coast Guard and the sanctuary consulted with NOAA's Scientific Support Coordinator on threats to sanctuary resources from the reported 2,500 gallons of diesel that were onboard, as well as the hazard presented by the vessels net.

The following day the sanctuary mobilized for a side-scan survey to locate the vessel. The boat crew was successful in locating and imaging the vessel in approximately 200 ft of water and documented the presence of various seabirds and marine mammals in the area encompassed by the diesel fuel slick. Simultaneous to the side-scan survey, the sanctuary had an observer on a USCG helicopter flight out of Air Station Port Angeles.

The sanctuary continues to work with other NOAA offices, USCG, Quileute Tribe and the responsible party on the removal of the wreck. The abandonment of a vessel within the sanctuary is prohibited.

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Tuesday, September 20th

Two Marine Debris Projects Funded

Port Angeles - In June 2005, the sanctuary received funding for two pilot projects through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Marine Debris Program. One project will focus on locating and removing derelict fishing gear from areas near Cape Flattery. Derelict fishing gear, such as lost or abandoned fishing nets and pots, can continue to trap and kill marine fish, birds, and mammals for years after it is abandoned in the ocean. Recent efforts sponsored by the Northwest Straits Commission have shed more light on the scale of the problem. In Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca waters, the commission has coordinated removal of many tons of derelict fishing gear, yet hundreds of tons remain.

The sanctuary's Derelict Fishing Gear Pilot Project will begin with a survey of nearshore areas between Neah Bay and Makah Bay, as well as interviews with local fishers, to identify locations of derelict gear. Commercial divers and scientists from the Makah Tribe will be trained in specialized techniques for derelict gear removal and project coordination and documentation. These state-approved techniques minimize risks to divers and damage to marine habitat. The goals are to transfer this expertise to residents of outer coast communities and tribal members, to facilitate funding of future efforts, and to reduce impacts to marine animals from this harmful marine debris.

The second project will focus on removal of beach debris gathered for the annual Olympic Coast Cleanup. Each year, over 300 volunteers amass in April to walk the remote Pacific Coast of the Olympic Peninsula and collect debris from one of the few designated coastal wilderness areas in the Lower 48 states. In recent years, this effort has generated over 30,000 pounds of plastics, fishing gear, rubber, bottles, and other flotsam. At remote locations where it is difficult to haul materials to a road, this beach debris has been amassed at remote cache sites. This funding will allow the sanctuary in partnership with Olympic National Park to move the cached materials off the beaches to a landfill. Where feasible, overland trails will be used. At some sites, it will be necessary to navigate a small inflatable vessel through the surf zone to get the bagged debris off the shore and onto a larger vessel. Restoration of native vegetation impacted by the cached piles is also planned.

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