Update: A happy ending to the following story: all of the gear was returned to Indian Island volunteers this morning.

Indian Island Marine Health Observatory equipment valued at $1500 has vanished in an apparent case of theft in Eastsound on Aug. 11.

“I’m hoping this was a lark and it’s been dropped by the side of the road,” said Russel Barsh, one of the lead volunteers with the organization. “Without this equipment, we can’t complete any more research this summer.”

The equipment was stored on property across from Waterfront Park. Stolen items include an 80-foot fishing net, signage, fishing and survey gear and PVC pipes. 
“We don’t care how it gets back, we just want it returned,” Barsh said. “This is an entirely volunteer-run organization, so we have no money for new equipment.”

The marine health observatory is an interactive research program involving marine scientists, local volunteers, and Orcas schools.

If anyone has information about the missing items, call the sheriff’s office at 378-4151 or Russel Barsh at 468-2808.