BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. () — An abandoned boat, half submerged under water near the Fort McAllister Boat Ramp, is causing local fishermen to relocate their shrimp and crab traps.

Fishermen have said that the boat appears to be leaking fuel or oil. Chet Linder told that he recently saw a shiny film on the water and could smell diesel fuel apparently leaking.

“We’ve come here and some days, the whole top of the water would be covered like a rainbow film. And I mean, you could smell it from a mile away. I can smell it right now. When the wind dies down, you can smell the diesel fuel,” Linder told on Thursday.

Linder said the area near the ramp is a prime spot for catching crab in the spring.

“It’s kind of questionable now whether we can even put [traps] here,” he said. “It could ruin a whole catch if one crab has one drop of diesel on it. That’s all it takes and ruins an entire catch for a whole day. You’re out bait expenses. You’re out of fuel expenses. You don’t have any product to sell because that one crab that’s got a drop of diesel on it, what do you do?”

Linder said they’re avoiding the area for now. In the meantime, he said he’s been contacting several agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Environment Protection Division (EPD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ogeechee Riverkeeper.

contacted DNR law enforcement. According to Game Warden Barry Britt, wardens grounded the boat at high tide and tied the bow to a tree.

Since then, their investigative unit has been trying to contact the owner to have them take responsibility for it. Britt said DNR can’t confirm if there is a substance leaking.

Linder said a potential spill isn’t safe or beneficial for their business.

“I mean, it’s detrimental to everything right here,” Linder said. “I’m sure the homeowners here probably don’t want to smell diesel fuel, but the fishing industry… it does no good. Something just needs to be done about it. It needs to be cleaned up.”

Below is a statement from a spokesperson with the Ogeechee Riverkeeper:

“Ogeechee Riverkeeper has reached out to the Georgia Coastal Resources Division and the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division. Both said they were aware of the situation, but we are waiting for more information from DNR Law Enforcement about its plans and strategy for removal. We are hoping for a quick resolution to this ongoing matter.”