Research Technical Report

Site Damage Assessment: Sunken F/V Stikine

DeVogelaere, A., and O. Frey (June 2012)

MBNMS Technical Report, 12pp.

INTRODUCTION

On Friday January 6, 2012 at about 0015, the 58' F/V Stikine (Figure 1) sank 1.5 miles off Soquel Point (36° 55.717' N, 121° 56.745' W) in 80 feet of water (Figure 2). The vessel sank hull down on sandy bottom habitat with 800-1,000 gallons of marine diesel aboard. All four passengers were rescued. US Coast Guard and Department of Fish and Game OSPR were on scene by 1500 that day with a helicopter, a C-130 aircraft, and a Department of Fish Game vessel to monitor any discharge. A light sheen on the water was observed, and the entire cargo of fuel, along with 50-75 gallons of hydraulic fluid, is believed to have been released at the time of sinking. The vessel had a seine net deployed and it sank connected to the vessel. The boat owner had insurance and contracted with a salvage firm to raise the vessel, but efforts to recover the vessel from the seafloor were unsuccessful due to the position of the net and lead lines, a large load of sardines, and unfavorable weather. In this report we provide a habitat and biological damage assessment of the seafloor.