Vancouver to organize volunteers to monitor oil spill pollution

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says the city is putting together a volunteer program to monitor the effects of the oil spill in English Bay last week.

So far more than 4,000 residents have called the city seeking to volunteer, says Robertson, but the coast guard has told people to stay off the shores and leave the clean-up to the professionals.

Officials said on Sunday that all of the oil on the water's surface had been removed and that the next step was to assess how much residual oil had made its way underwater.

Robertson is hoping to have a plan in place shortly to mobilize volunteers to monitor the shoreline.

"I expect to hear back from our city manager on Tuesday at our report to council on what the volunteer program will look like and how we will have eyes and ears on the beaches here and we are making sure the waters are being watched."

Robertson has criticized the fact it took 13 hours for the coast guard to notify the city about the spill.

The city is working with Vancouver Coastal Health to determine when it will be safe to re-open public beaches that were closed as a result of the spill.

Officials have confirmed that about 2,700 litres of bunker fuel was accidently discharged from the cargo ship M/V Marathassa last Wednesday afternoon.

A few dozen birds have been rescued by wildlife teams.