Fishing boat captain accused of polluting ocean with toxic squid ink in California

A fishing boat captain has been ordered to pay a fine after being accused of dumping toxic ink into the ocean in Southern California, officials said.

William Porter McHenry, who runs a 67-foot commercial fishing vessel called Sea Pearl, allowed “stick water” to be dumped into the ocean, according to an April 21 news release by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

In December, bystanders saw the Sea Pearl head into sea, dump the waste, and then return back to shore, officials said.

“Stick water” is created during the process of squid fishing. When squid are caught, and as they die, they release an ink that has high levels of ammonia, causing the ocean water to turn dark and toxic, officials said.

The “harmful substance” is stored in the vessel’s hull and should be disposed of at least three nautical miles offshore, officials said.

After investigating, officers learned the Sea Pearl dumped 206,298 pounds of market squid in the Ventura Harbor before receiving the “stick water” from onshore tanks, officials said.

McHenry must pay $8,444.69 for environmental restoration, $6,555.31 in penalties and $1,889.39 for unfair business practices, officials said.

Ventura County is about a 70-mile drive northwest of downtown Los Angeles.