Spills
The ca ssc was contacted wednesday evening about scattered tarballs washing ashore along a stretch of beach…
Monterey Bay Mystery Tarballs; Marina, Ca · Marina, Ca · NOAAORR-7579
- issued
- 2001-09-12 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 2001-09-26 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 2001-09-26 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 36.800, -121.783
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Monterey Bay Mystery Tarballs; Marina, CA. Marina, CA. 1. The CA SSC was contacted Wednesday evening about scattered tarballs washing ashore along a stretch of beach in the Marina, CA area (north of Monterey). Very little detail was known at that time, such as density, distribution and potential sources. The next morning, further information from both MSO San Francisco and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) indicated that these tarballs were spread over a wide range, approximately 15 miles of shoreline from just north of Monterey up to the Pajaro River. Responders on-scene reported tarballs ranging in size from a dime to a dinner plate, fairly weathered, and concentrated in swash lines along the beach face. USCG district 11. 2. COMMODITY: TARBALLS. 3. POSITION 36.800N 121.783W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7579: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7579
This area · spills & pollution incidents
262 within 180 nm since 1971 · 14 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
Nearby now · within 120 nm
- 1900 CA-1, moss landing, ca 95039, USASpills · 0.7 nm
- 32CC+C7 inverness, ca, USASpills · 95.3 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 →
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