PALETO, JUNE 20 2026 – A press release from the offices of the San Andreas Parks Department:
Over the past few days, members of the San Andreas Parks Department have been carrying out environmental surveys following the recent incident at Chupacabra Street Docks.
As the incident itself remains under active investigation by law enforcement, we won’t be commenting on what happened or what caused it. Our role is to understand the impact it’s had on the local environment and help minimise any lasting damage.
Initial water testing has confirmed contamination in the immediate area around the vessel, with elevated levels of diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid present in the water. Containment measures put in place by emergency services appear to be limiting the spread, but we’ll continue monitoring the area over the coming weeks to make sure that remains the case.
We’ve also started surveying local wildlife and marine habitats for any signs of disruption. So far we’ve seen some changes in activity around the docks, which isn’t unexpected given the circumstances, but thankfully we haven’t identified any widespread environmental damage outside the affected area.
One question we’ve already been asked is whether the vessel will be removed. At this stage, that isn’t the current plan. Given the size of the wreck and the potential environmental risks involved in trying to recover it, removing it could cause more harm than leaving it where it is.
Instead, the area will continue to be monitored through regular water sampling and conservation studies. As contamination levels decrease and the site naturally stabilises, we expect the surrounding ecosystem to begin recovering. The wreck itself may eventually become part of the local marine habitat, but we’ll continue keeping a close eye on the area to make sure no further environmental concerns develop.
For now, we’d ask the public to avoid entering the water around the docks and not to interfere with any containment equipment or debris. If you spot wildlife in distress or signs of pollution outside the affected area, please report it so it can be investigated.
I’d also like to thank everyone who has been involved in the response so far. There’s still plenty of work to do, but we’ll continue monitoring the site and carrying out conservation work for as long as it’s needed.
Sincerely,
Vivian Chopper
Head Ranger
San Andreas Parks Department