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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Timeline · 2 messages since 2025-03-15 · closed 2025-04-16

  1. Off stinson beach, ca this message2025-03-15 → 2025-03-29
  2. 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

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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

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