Sea Lion People Need Mug Shots

Declines -- pest control (1913-1960s) an unexplained (1980'sà

Stellar Sea Lion populations in the Gulf of Alaska recently plummeted by 50 to 80% in four years. They were placed on the "threatened" list in November 1990.(Latest Update-June 1997) The huge U.S. Pollock fishery is blamed for over fishing. The industry counters (See 'it ain't me'!!) that populations from Japan to California have declined and suggests disease or global warming may be the cause. BC populations have remained stable at 6,000+. This is 1/3 to 1/4 historical levels, but has been constant since the "culling" stopped in the sixties. Not that BC hasn't killed its' share in the name of management or harvesting. Around WWI some 5,000 per year were killed, and as late as 1948 the Scott Island rookeries were wiped out. Even in the late seventies scientists routinely killed several hundred adults in a colony to "collect" information on their reproductive organs.

Hecate rookeries and male chauvinism

Sea lions have returned to the same rookeries (locally: Forrester Island AK, (For long detailed US 1995 "stock" study) Cape St. James, and Danger Rocks) since records began in 1913. Most our information deals with DFO body counts, but biologist studied some breeding colonies in the 1970s.

These studies seem ridiculously outdated to me. The biology of the time reflected cold war politics. Territorial imperatives and male aggression were seen as the thing that gave order to society. Males displayed postures that were coded messages to other males. As females (here is a brochure site that gives balanced approach) did not, they were seen as being asocial. Little attention was paid to the animals off the rookeries. We do know sea lions hunt at night, eat mostly bottom fish which they must locate by hearing or echolocation. Pups can't swim for several months and often drown when washed out to sea by swells.

Sea Lions like us

Natives believed sea lions were human like beings transformed by wearing skin robes. Thus they were motivated by understandable values. An image often repeated in the scientific literature comes to mind: a large female nurses a smaller female who nurses a pup. This means sea lions recognize each other as individuals; and continual contact must be maintained for several years at least. Thus the sea lion clan hauled out in the picture could be on a feeding expedition at a traditional hunting site. Usually the seas are so rough that the smaller females and juveniles must camp elsewhere. They periodically return to the Winter Village located in the Dundas Island group (either Zayas, population: 500, or Chealney, 225). June to July is the great summer solstice celebration when the whole tribe gathers at Central Village on Forrester Island in SE Alaska (circa 6,000). Tournaments, feats of strength, and delivering- new- generation ceremonies are marked. The males practice for this incessantly, like hockey. The rookery is chosen carefully so that females will find adequate August - September food while nursing the pups.

Western science will think deeply on how to communicate with aliens from outer space but not how to communicate with fellow "earthlings". Sea lions are at least as self-aware as domesticated dog, but western culture has not yet discovered how to imagine sea lions except as machines driven by aggression and sex. Or worse, as chicken feed.

Recognize as individuals-- mug shots

Sea lion individuals can often be identified by their scars or other markings. Locally we need to try to recognize individuals so we can begin to understand them. Are these from Alaska? or Cape St. James? Or California? Females live some 30 years, males 20. Enough time for us to get to know them. Anyone interested in collating mug shots and giving names?

Here is more scientific approach on how-to monitor sea mammals.