LAPUSH — Washington state and federal agencies are watching for any significant pollution from a fishing boat that sank off the North Olympic Peninsula coast with 3,800 gallons of diesel fuel on board.
The Coast Guard safely rescued all five crew members from the 80-foot Vicious Fisher before it sank Thursday night about 13 miles west of LaPush in water 360 feet deep.
The Coast Guard says two flyovers on Friday showed a two-mile, light sheen in the area. The sheen is not recoverable.
A third flyover is planned for today (Saturday).
The boat sank within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and pollution could endanger marine birds and mammals.
The Coast Guard and state Ecology Department officials have determined it is not possible to salvage the Bellingham-based boat because of the depth of the water.
