Another small vessel likely from Japan washed up on northern Vancouver Island, as debris from the 2011 deadly Japanese tsunami continues to hit B.C.'s shores.

Living Oceans Society's Will Soltau made the discovery on Jan. 16 while on a helicopter surveillance to examine the more-than-normal amount of debris arriving on the province's coastline in preparation for the group's efforts to clean the coast.

Most of the debris is plastic and Styrofoam, but occasionally larger items from Japan have made landfall.

The small boat discovered by Soltau was about six metres in length, similar to a skiff found on Spring Island outside the Village of Kyugquot last summer.

Debris around the newly-discovered vessel included a life jacket and steering wheel assembly, both with Japanese writing.

"The likelihood the boat came from Japan is good, but it's hard to say for certain," said Soltau, noting there were no distinguishing marks on the boat's hull.

About 1.5 million tonnes of debris from the tsunami is estimated to be floating across the Pacific Ocean from the 2011 Tsunami.

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle in a container came ashore last April in Naikoon park on Haida Gwaii.

The bulk of the debris is not expected to hit B.C.'s shores until 2013, according to B.C. officials.

Peter Barratt, operations manager at West Coast Helicopters, was piloting the helicopter on the trip north from San Josef Bay to the south shore of the Brooks Peninsula when the debris was spotted.

"There has always been debris on beaches, but from past experience, the amount of debris, especially Styrofoam, is really increasing," said Barratt, who has been flying helicopters over northern Vancouver Island for more than 30 years.

Living Oceans hopes to organize volunteers to help clean up debris on northern Vancouver Island's coastline this summer.

The boat's location, which is not being revealed publicly, has been reported to the B.C. government's tsunami group and Transport Canada.

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