Remnants of a fuel spill originating from Duke Point. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

Oil spill

Response continues to Nanaimo area oil spill

Jan 8, 2026 | 4:15 PM

NANAIMO — Sizable volumes of suspected diesel fuel flowed into the ocean, resulting in a noticeable oil sheen between Duke Point and Mudge Island.

The Ministry of Environment and Parks stated the province was first notified on Monday, Jan. 5.

“The National Aerial Surveillance Program under Transport Canada did an overflight on January 5 and estimated that between 350 and 1,600 litres of oil sheen was on the water.”

The City traced the spill to Duke Point’s industrial park, with the oil passing through a City culvert and entering the ocean on the eastern end of Duke Point through an outfall pipe.

While the ministry didn’t disclose precisely where the spill took place, nor was the offending party revealed, it did state the source of the spill is confirmed to have originated from an industrial business at Duke Point.

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“The outflow has been boomed, and cleanup is underway. No additional material has been observed outside of containment,” the statement read.

Potential impacts to the environment or wildlife were not known, according to the ministry, which noted it will continue to monitor the ongoing cleanup effort.

“The province is on site ensuring that the responsible party are taking action, including sampling and SCAT (Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique) measures.”

B.C. has a “polluter pay” principle, requiring the offending party to clean up spills, while the B.C. government oversees responses to ensure they’re done in a coordinated fashion.

“The province will step in if the spiller is unable to,” the ministry statement to NanaimoNewsNOW read.

Bill Sims, the City’s engineering and public works manager, stated City staff were on site supporting the ministry.

The ministry stated a separate spill took place north of Campbell River at a rural Duncan Bay Rd. property on Tuesday, Jan 6, involving over 780 litres of diesel fuel spilled on the ground.

The responsible party took remedial action, the ministry confirmed.

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