Oil found on ducks, seal off Newfoundland, residents claim
by The Canadian Press
Some residents living along shoreline of Newfoundland's Notre Dame Bay believe oil came from leaking, sunken shipwreck
CHANGE ISLANDS, N.L.—Some residents living along the shoreline of Newfoundland’s Notre Dame Bay say they believe oil found on ducks and at least one seal came from a leaking, sunken shipwreck.
The Manolis L. sank in a storm off Change Islands 30 years ago.
In April 2013, residents started noticing an oily sheen on the water.
Since then, the Canadian Coast Guard has been working to contain the fuel leaking from the ship.
A citizens response committee says a dark streak about 400 metres long and over 40 metres wide can be seen in the ice near Cape Freels, about 100 kilometres from the wreck.
The Cape Freels area is where resident Bill Bryden photographed a seal that he says clawed off its fur trying to get oil off its back.
However, the coast guard issued a statement saying the federal agency had yet to receive any reports of oil in the water or oiled marine animals.
“We urge the public to report any oil sighting as soon as possible,” the statement said, adding that crew aboard the coast guard ship Ann Harvey were expected to be monitoring the area around Hamilton Sound this week.
As well, the coast guard said surveillance flights over Notre Dame Bay have not detected any oil, but the flights will continue if weather permits.
