Dalco Passage is located between Point Defiance and the south end of Vashon Island. A large spill from an unknown source is affecting beaches on Maury and Vashon Islands, as well as Commencement  Bay and up Colvos Passage on Vashon Island's west side. IOSA was contacted on Thursday afternoon October 14 by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and asked to have wildlife responders on stand-by to begin search and rescue operations for oiled seabirds. 

Three IOSA responders headed to Tacoma early Friday morning for on-site assessment while over 20 responders are on standby to go as soon as needed. This web site will be updated as soon as the assessment report comes in. 

Update Saturday morning October 16:

Search and rescue responders found one oiled seabird today and will go out again Saturday to continue search and rescue operations. Three more IOSA responders will join the three already there, for a total of six responders from IOSA on Saturday. After Saturday's search, there will be an assessment to determine the need for continuing search and rescue operations.

Update Tuesday October 19

3 IOSA responders continue search and rescue operations on Monday, October 18. Other than the one oiled grebe found on Friday, Oct. 15, there have been no more oiled birds found. The source of the spill, as well as the substance spilled, remains a mystery.

IOSA is not involved in containment operations because this is an out-of-county spill .

IOSA wildlife responders please go the Responder Info page to find out what you need to bring.