Spills · other
Off stinson beach, ca
Possible Pollutant Report; Off Stinson Beach, California · NOAAORR-10935
- issued
- 2025-03-15 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 2025-03-29 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 2025-03-29 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 37.883, -122.628
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Possible Pollutant Report; off Stinson Beach, California. off Stinson Beach, CA. 1. Mid-day on March 15, 2025, USCG Sector San Francisco's Incident Management Division contacted their NOAA SSC regarding a possible oil sighting off of Stinson Beach, California. Initial reports from Stinson Beach Fire Department indicated “black blotches breaking up in the water.” The fire department was not able to get within 500 yards of the material, but did not smell any petroleum product. They chose to make a report to the National Response Center (NRC) in an abundance of caution. USCG then requested input on a possible pollution event. Photos were provided. Further investigation revealed that the source was biogenic—masses of small jellyfish-like creatures, Vellela velella, commonly known as “by-the-wind” sailors—and not a pollutant. The USCG stood down operations on the case, with no further requests for OR&R support. 2. THREAT: OTHER. COMMODITY: UNKNOWN. 3. POSITION 37.883N 122.628W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10935: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10935
This area · spills & pollution incidents
245 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now
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- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USA2026-08-30
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USA2026-08-21
- J444+RW monterey, ca, USA2026-08-13
- 1809 sunset dr, pacific grove, ca 93950, USA2026-08-07
- R685+56 moss landing, ca, USA2026-08-07
- 841 w brannan island rd, isleton, ca 95641, USA2026-07-31
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
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month of issue, all years in the archive
Timeline · 2 messages since 2025-03-15 · closed 2025-04-16
- Off stinson beach, ca this message2025-03-15 → 2025-03-29
- On april 2, 2025, the local nws weather forecast office staff contacted their noaa ssc to relay a report…2025-04-02 → 2025-04-16
joined by proximity
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 20.1 nm
- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 75.8 nm
Worldwide now
8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all
Spills
Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →
Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.