B.C. oil spill will have long-term impact of dynamic estuary

A helicopter survey of the damage left by 50 tonnes of bunker fuel that has spilled in Howe Sound, north of Vancouver, confirmed the black, heavy slick now extends one-and-a-half kilometres long.

And an additional kilometre of oil has been pushed towards the Squamish, B.C., coastline, affecting the vegetation and highly productive Squamish Estuary, which is known to be so diverse its habitat is likened to that of a tropical rainforest.