Dramatic photos of Vancouver oil spill spark pipeline outrage on social media

As striking photos of the oil spill in Vancouver's English Bay spread on social media Thursday, many voiced concerns that the sight of fuel on water will become common if B.C. becomes home to more oil pipelines.

Many fear sight of fuel on water will become common if B.C. gets more oil pipelines

CBC News Posted: Apr 09, 2015 4:17 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 29, 2015

As a toxic bunker fuel spill spread across Vancouver's English Bay and washed ashore on the city's many beaches, people took to social media to share worrying photos, along withfears for the province's environmental future.

Aerial photos capture the scale of the spill

It appears fuel may be leaking from one of the cargo ships anchored in English Bay. Still unconfirmed @News1130radio pic.twitter.com/g8P1ehP0UY
—@chad_dey

The oily substance topping the waters of English Bay covers a wide area @News1130radio pic.twitter.com/Nrd1x9dja5
—@chad_dey

The water looks like this in some places

Oil slick in English Bay now. pic.twitter.com/pEGXZcNaWT
—@Igottherunz

Sun reflecting off bunker oil spill in EnglishBay #cbc #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/SJlw2nxMB9
—@vancbcmcarthur

It's real RT @News1130radio: Photo of #VanFuelSpill at #EnglishBay yesterday afternoon (Photo credit: Chad Spoffard) pic.twitter.com/X7hmS4Bnrg
—@cwilhelmson

Fuel is clearly visible on beaches as well

.@inthehouse7 is at the site of the #VanFuelSpill and will have more tonight on @APTNNews pic.twitter.com/z9fGmScwM5
—@DennisWardNews

Walked from 2nd to 3rd Beach in Stanley Park. Spill apparent in areas. Many birds. Hard to see if they are affected. pic.twitter.com/Kck3q2wlJY
—@llikemoyd

Touched a small oil drop of many on English bay beach. Washed up on the tide #oilspill #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/T2TDUdAo0m
—@RonWilsonVan

As the sun gets higher here the slick becomes more visible #cbc pic.twitter.com/4NQAPH8UtG
—@FarrahMerali

Many haveexpressed concern for wildlife

English Bay today. English Bay a month ago. #VanFuelSpill @VancityBuzz #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/ol8KPLgzbS
—@paultomkinson

Canadian geese swim through bunker fuel on English Bay. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/Wk9xkrBYly
—@SChandraHerbert

Sad to hear of the bunker fuel spill in Vancouver's English Bay. Hoping that no marine life are harshly impacted #VanFuelSpill
—@DarcyGreen91

You can see how close the tankers are in these photos from yesterday likely shows the actual tanker. #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/H4jFwtMKom
—@VeganRottweiler

And outrage that some have described the spill as 'minor'

"Minor" is when I spill olive oil on my kitchen floor not a plume through a bay to beaches.1st pass at cleanup yields a ton?! #vanfuelspill
—@eleekg

"Minor" oil spill at #EnglishBay http://t.co/Un2FSFPzmm #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/Q5vcmjcarC via @News1130radio
—@mapleridgealex

#VanFuelSpill already being called 'minor', but bunker fuel effects on marine life highly toxic. Grim reminder of worst case scenario.
—@awoodsworth

And while clean-up efforts are underway

This boat is skimming the water sucking up oil from the Marathassa in English Bay. #CBC #Vancouver #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/P1u3Xk2UX9
—@vancbcmcarthur

Some have doubts about how much can really be done

Can we really just "clean it up" ? As this photo demos, the fluidity of water can be quite frustrating #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/Md62Vuq08e
—@_DanWard

Many more have saidthe spill is proof the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline will be an environmental disaster

Tell me again how we'll get tankers through the Douglas channel safely when we can't even prevent a spill in burrard inlet. #VanFuelSpill
—@Jazzblister

This spill off the coast should open your eyes. No beaches, no fun. Panels, not pipelines. #bcpoli #VanFuelSpill
—@lapredni

Another reason we don't need vessels carrying oil as their main purpose in our water ways #VanFuelSpill #NoPipelines https://t.co/o1qSu84oln
—@amilreddy

Small protest at English Bay #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/Qa1Axkz2PG
—@theemilyjackson

And appealed directly to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

#VanFuelSpill serves as warning for what could happen if #Harper and pipeline proponents get their way http://t.co/Icp4VbSt9m #ActOnClimate
—@peterlouwe

Sure, just keep rejecting proposals to ban tankers & bring more in Not like anything ever happens, right? #VanFuelSpill #DummyUp @pmharper
—@AdorablyNuts