Sea lion killings prompt NOAA Fisheries to offer reward for conviction of culprits

The NOAA Fisheries Service is offering a reward of as much as $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for shooting sea lions.

Five California sea lions, all with bullet wounds, were recovered in February between Malibu and El Segundo. Three of the mammals died and another is in critical condition.

Killing or harassing marine mammals is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If the culprit or culprits are nabbed, they face the prospect of heavy penalties or jail time or both.

Sea lion numbers have skyrocketed during the last several years, and the pinnipeds have become increasingly bold and bothersome to commercial and recreational fishermen.

But the last thing anyone needs, including image-conscious fishermen, is some loose cannon taking matters into his or her own hands.

Anyone with helpful information is urged to call (562) 980-4050 or (800) 853-1964. The latter number is a 24-hour NOAA hotline.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Sea lions seek warmth and togetherness atop a buoy beyond King Harbor in Redondo Beach. Credit: Pete Thomas / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Dave S]

Gaylon, "Sea Lions have few teeth", and "DONT dismember fish", "but swallow them whole?"

Obviously you've never seen one of these seals go to work on a 20lb yellowtail off the Coronado or San Clemente Islands. They rip off the body, leaving the fish's head and hook to be retrieved by the fisherman. They then fling the yellowtail at the surface, DISMEMBERING THEM and eating them in chunks (b/c a 20 lb yellowtail is just too big to be swallowed whole, its a seal, not a python). THey do the same with bonito. I've also seen them rip a calico in half, leaving the carcass afloat (note: Fish dont have limbs, but since "dismember" means to tear apart, we'll go with it). They also wait for the most prize fish to be caught, shunning mackeral and waiting for bonito or yellowtail to go in and snatch. Most disruptively, they get into a boat's chum line, eating the sardines on fisherman's hooks, biting them right at the head where the hook is (once again, not swallowing the sardine whole).

They only fish they eat whole are those small enough to swallow, such as mackeral and sardines, which I've seen on the ocean and at sea world. You have must have "observed" this fish swallowing behavior too, but also at Sea World, which is of course a realistic depiction of their natural feeding habits.

Why dont you score that...or even better, why dont you go find something to go swallow whole?

[Gaylon Shaw]

Sea Lions have few teeth, do not chew or dismember fish but swallow them whole and thus don't leave fish around after "eating the bellies out." Number Two: The biggest threat to the American commercial fisherman is Vietnamese shrimp, Canadian salmon and Chinese sole, not sea lions. And Number Three: Sea lions do not attack or snap at humans unless the dumb asses and their kids are provoking them. Score it!!!

[the zen man]

DFG and NOAA have washed their hands of management of this overpopulated species, much to the endangerment of other endangered and threatened species (groundfish, salmon, etc.).

I don't really care what the relationship between sealions and fishermen are. But the overpopulated sealions are becoming a danger to the public (witness what happens to boats and beach goers). A pack of snapping 300-lb ocean-swimming pitbull is not compatible with docks, boats, seashores.

Alas, the enviros see these furry animals as a way into the wallets of donors. They conveniently ignore the truth that these sea lions are not threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act or depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In fact, scientists have been saying for years that the population of sealions is beyond their optimum sustainable population (OSP). They conveniently ignore the pollution caused to urban beaches by sealion and seal feces and the degradation of reef biomass by these overpopulated voracious predators.

For these enviros, it's about money, and stoking the cause of "rescuing" or "protecting" these oh-so-cute animals is a way to exploit them for donations. They could give a hoot about the effect on water pollution and other endangered species. So the show goes on.

[rob valantine]

By far the most miss-managed animals on the face of the earth ! Dept. of fish and game obviously have more important things going on than to realize this cute, furry creature has directly affected the local and state economy. The population has multiplied at such incredible rates that the numbers are completely overwhelming. These pinnipeds are so reliant on man for food that they have have completely changed all eating habits that evolution has taught them. The shear sound of a motor will attract these creatures from miles around. After locating an anglers catch they will steal the fish right off the hook, eat only the belly meat (the softest part of the fish) and let the rest sink out into the depths only to repeat this offensive ritual time after time. These animals also will destroy commercial fishing receivers loaded with hundres of thousands of dollars in fish and bait used for fishing, because they are so over populated and now reliant on man to provide them with an easy meal ! Because these animals are so mis-managed, the local and state economy is directly affected. The overall price of fish in the market that we all consume is much higher in price because of these animals. After losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost time and wages, commercial fisherman who have lost bait and fish to these ruthless animals are forced to charge a higher rate for their catch to compensate for their losses. The damage these animals have created to private yachts and boats within harbors and marinas is completely mindboggling. They will intrude on anything that floats with no hesitaion to value or stability. Be it a multi-million dollar yacht or a sailboat moored for the winter, these animals will sink, in many times or destroy someones life savings that sits at a dock, while @ the same time be protected by our beloved federal government and the DEPT. OF FISH and GAME ! If a human breaks ito your house and steals, rapes or destroys your house and or your family, man is legaly entitled to shoot on sight the perpetrator for these acts. But the seals can do anything they like at anytime to humans personal belongings while being federally protected !!!!!! At what point or montary value must be lost before the federal government. Dept. of fish and game, and treehuggers realize that the species is completely out of control ?? Disease and starvation will soon wipe out these animals because mother natures balance has been so upset, and this can be all avoided if measures are taken to properly managed these animals. Pinnipeds can produce pups twice a year, and with man supplying easy meals to these creatures, there is no stopping a species that is so mis-managed that within 5-10 years will have taken over the oceans of the world and will eventually desamate the fisheries of the world ! Something must be done and done immediatly !! The balance of mother nature is so out of wack, that these animals are destroying millions of dollars annually in local and state economies, structures, vessels, commercial and recreational fishermans livelyhoods, and even our childrens futures !!! Unless addressed in a timely manner, this population will have catastrophic effect on mankind, and we owe all of this to our beloved DEPT OF FISH AND GAME, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT and UNEDUCATED TREEHUGGERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BIZ]

No, someone should realize that these creatures are way overpopulated and are the biggest reason for fish populations being down. Ever think how much a 400 pound sealion must eat a day? Times 300,000???