JOYCE — Four Canadian tribal fishermen were rescued off a 50-foot fishing vessel when it ran aground in Freshwater Bay on Wednesday night in an incident that remained under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
The grounding left an oily sheen on the water later determined to be bilge water.
The state Department of Ecology issued the captain of the Nordic Spirit a $500 citation for spill of bilge water, said Lt. Danielle Renoud of the Seattle office of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The fishermen, who were reportedly unhurt, will be allowed to return to Victoria once repairs are made to the vessel, which the Coast Guard towed into Port Angeles Harbor early Thursday afternoon, Renoud said.
But the Coast Guard will continue to investigate for possible criminal citations.
“We’ll keep the contact info, if a follow-up is necessary,” she said.
Since the grounding remains under investigation, the Coast Guard hasn’t released the names, ages or tribal affiliation of the four men aboard.
The fishing vessel is licensed to FAS Seafood Producers Ltd. of Victoria.
