Fat blobs found on West Van beach likely came from ship

The mystery of the blobs of fat washing up on a West Vancouver beach has been at least partially solved.

On Aug. 13, residents reported finding foul-smelling gelatinous grease pebbles at Ambleside Pier.

District staff cleaned up about 40 litres of the substance, some of which was sent for testing. The province’s environmental regulators also looked into the matter.

A cursory analysis by a chemist indicates the blobs are made up of saturated fat, “possibly animal in origin. Beef tallow comes to mind,” said Donna Powers, spokeswoman for the District of West Vancouver.

Although “fatbergs” — giant blobs of fat that collect other solids — tend to build up in sewers thanks to grease being put down the drain, it’s not possible for those fats to make it past the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant, Powers said.

“The assumed source is a ship’s discharge,” she said.

Powers said it’s unlikely they would be able to track down which ship was responsible.

North Vancouver resident Tiffany Paul noticed noxious grease when she and her family were found themselves surrounded by it on the beach. The lack of oversight and consequences is troubling, she said.