Suspected Illegal Discharge from a Vessel Off the Coast of California Leaves Long Oil Slick on the Water’s Surface

On October 5, a U.S. NOAA satellite detected a long, narrow oil slick in the open ocean west of San Francisco, which is believed to have been caused by illegal discharge of bilge water from a vessel. This area serves as a migration route for whales and seabirds; the oil can contaminate seabirds’ feathers, poison plankton, and accumulate along the food chain.