Point Reyes beach closes to the public after fishing boat crash

A popular Bay Area beach has closed to the public after a 58-foot-long fishing boat ran aground and became trapped on the shore early Friday morning. 

Read more Stone Brewing to lay off over 200 as it shuts down Calif. headquarters

Known for its views of migrating gray whales and a snowy plover nesting habitat, North Beach spans an 11-mile stretch of sandy coastline along Point Reyes National Seashore. In a news release, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was coordinating with the owner of the vessel, named Lake Bay, and a contracted salvage company “to safely remove all fuel” from the boat, which had approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel onboard. Its maximum fuel capacity was 2,800 gallons.

“No injuries, active fuel leaks, or wildlife impacts have been reported at this time,” the Coast Guard wrote, noting the purpose of the beach closure was “to allow responders to operate safely and without interference.”

The Point Reyes Light reported the vessel was a fiberglass purse seiner — a specialized fishing boat used to target large schools of fish — and was registered out of Smith River and built in 1975. The crew reportedly attempted to pull the boat from the beach with a skiff when the tide rose on Friday morning, but it became “partially buried in the sand” and their tow rope broke shortly after the tidal peak at 8:30 a.m. Inverness resident Richard James told the outlet he spoke with the skipper and learned the boat was carrying 40,000 pounds of squid.

The National Park Service aided in the initial response alongside technical specialists from Marin County Fire, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. How the boat came to run aground is under investigation.

“Our top priorities are ensuring the safety of the first responders and the public, stabilizing the incident, and limiting environmental impacts,” Lt. Cmdr. Carey Lewis, Coast Guard incident commander, said in the Friday news release. “Responders are continuously monitoring and evaluating the site for pollution and any potential risk factors so we can approach operations with intention to minimize environmental impacts.”

Read more Hawk Fire near Reno prompts Sierra County evacuation warnings

Adam Stanton, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard, told SFGATE on Sunday morning the agency had determined there was no pollution risk and that it was up to the owner of the vessel  to “complete the salvage operation,” or remove the boat from the beach. He couldn’t speak to how unusual the incident was for Point Reyes, but said it had generated some of the most press inquiries that he had received in his 20-year career.

“The ocean is a dangerous place, and the weather can be unpredictable,” Stanton said. 

Scott Carr, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, told SFGATE North Beach “will remain closed until salvage operations are complete and the beach is safe for visitors.” He added that no other beaches in Point Reyes National Seashore are impacted by the closure. Visitors can find alternatives on its website, where updates regarding the reopening of North Beach will also be shared.

This breaking news story has been updated.