VICTORIA — The B.C. and federal governments plan to salvage pieces of equipment that sank to the bottom of Robson Bight off Vancouver Island in a barge accident last summer.

The plan was announced Friday by B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner and Loyola Hearn, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Robson Bight is an ecological reserve for killer whales situated on the northeast region of Vancouver Island.

On Aug. 20, 2007, a barge carrying vehicles and forestry equipment tipped over, dumping 11 pieces of equipment to the bottom of the ocean inside the protected area.

Recent video footage of the sunken equipment shows the vehicles are mostly upright and relatively undamaged, and do not appear to be leaking.

The reserve is so important that the two levels of government felt it necessary to work together on the salvage project, said Penner.

Click here to read the complete story in The Canadian Press.

Additional stories and photos:

CBC News: Salvage operation planned for Robson Bight, B.C.

The Province: Fuel tanker to be recovered from Robson Bight