By Lisa Stewart
The Westerly News
Aug. 10, 2005
The Barkley Sound area population of California sea lions (the dark brown
ones that bark) is at an historical high and the animals in the Ucluelet
harbour are "fat harbour junkies" according to one local marine
mammal biologist.
Wendy Staniszlo says the average California sea lion weighs about 800 lbs. and the animals in the harbour are even heavier - a testament to their intelligence and ability to find plenty of food. But it's the source of that food that has Staniszlo and others worried.
It isn't uncommon to see people dangling a fish over the side of a boat tempting a sea lion to make a snatch. Commercial fish boats have also been documented shoveling bycatch into the harbour and although the Ucluelet harbour regulation bylaw states all fish offal/waste must be disposed of outside the entrance of the harbour, this is not always done.
"It conditions the animal so they think it is easier and better to take food from humans - a sure source - than to go looking for food on their own," says Szaniszlo. There are also public safety concerns. Staniszlo says the situation with sea lions parallels the situation with bears. "Think of sea lions as bears with flippers," she says. "Feeding wild animals of any kind takes away from their ability to lead a natural life. Keep the wildlife wild."
Sea lions can be quite aggressive when it comes to food, she says - a fact backed up by Ron Kehl, West Coast Superintendent for Conservation and Protection at Fisheries and Oceans.
He says the concern about increased sea lion activity in harbours is not unique to Ucluelet. One major attractant, says Kehl, are fish cleaning stations on the foreshore. Natural fish feeders, sea lions are naturally attracted to sources of fish. Fisheries and Oceans makes efforts to talk to marina owners and resorts to find ways to safely remove fish waste.
The Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act make reference to not disturbing a marine mammal. "Feeding animals would certainly constitute a disturbance," says Kehl. He noted an update of the marine mammal protection legislation should be ready in about a year.
Ucluelet's Harbour Advisory Commission (HAC) noted at a recent meeting there seems to be twice as much sea lion activity in the harbour compared to last year and that a new unnatural food source is emerging with charter boats stopping to feed sea lions as entertainment for clients.
HAC member Scott MacDonald is tasked with finding out as much as he can about the sea lion issue so he can inform other HAC members about the situation in the harbour. He agrees fish cleaning stations are an attractant for sea lions. He notes it isn't uncommon to see a group of people gathered around a station when fish are being cleaned taking photos of the frenzy of activity as sea lions feed on fish carcasses.
MacDonald says sea lions can also be observed following fish boats into the harbour - apparently hoping for a snack. "There is no doubt there is a fair bit of deliberate feeding going on in the harbour," says MacDonald.
He believes the solution is two-pronged: Deal properly with fish waste/offal and educate people against intentional feeding.
But he is quick to
add there are charter operators and commercial fish boats who manage their
fish wastes properly by disposing of waste outside the mouth of the harbour.
"There are conscientious people all around that seem to be doing
the right thing. As with anything there are always a few bad apples in
the bunch."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright The
Westerly News, a Canwest Company. Reproduction of this article
or photographs, in whole or in part, is illegal without the written consent
of The Westerly News (westnews@ukeecable.net).
The Westerly News is published each Wednesday in Ucluelet. Phone: 250
726-7029
home
> barkley/habitat
> article
