Spills

Point reyes, california

Mystery Tarballs, Drakes Bay; Point Reyes, California · NOAAORR-7246

issued
1997-11-16 00:00Z
status
cancelled 1997-11-30 00:00Z
self-cancels
1997-11-30 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
38.026, -122.953
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Mystery Tarballs, Drakes Bay; Point Reyes, California.
Point Reyes, California.
1. On November 16, 1997, MSO San Francisco received reports of tarballs and oiled birds on Drakes Beach from the Point Reyes National Seashore. An MSO team was dispatched and found trace amounts of dime-sized tarballs along the beach. Personnel from the Point Reyes National Seashore and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary began collecting oiled live and dead birds. The Oiled Wildlife Care Network and International Bird Rescue and Research Center in Berkeley, California began cleaning and rehabilitating oiled birds. USCG district 11. Keyword: International Bird Rescue and Research Center.
2. COMMODITY: CRUDE OIL.
3. POSITION 38.026N 122.953W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7246: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7246

This area · spills & pollution incidents

249 within 180 nm since 1971 · 13 in the last 12 months · 2 in force now

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Timeline · 2 messages since 1997-11-16 · closed 1997-12-05

  1. Point reyes, california this message1997-11-16 → 1997-11-30
  2. Point reyes, ca1997-11-21 → 1997-12-05

joined by proximity

Nearby now · within 120 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.