4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015 Pinnipeds: Port only wants to keep sea lions from damaging its docks Continued from Page 1A in October showed a decrease in chinook salmon survival from 90 percent in 2010 to 55 percent in 2014. It compared the decrease in survival with a more than 670 percent in- crease in sea lion populations counted by ODFW in Astoria between March 15 and May 15 over the same years. Sea lion marina Amid the issues of sea lion predation, the Port has main- tained it only wants to keep sea lions from damaging its docks, estimating more than $100,000 in damage to utili- ties and the docks themselves from sea lions. It has removed docks, dis- connected utilities from the two that the sea lions inhabit and strung brightly colored surveying tape, which has effectively dissuaded the an- imals from jumping onto the two docks with boats still tied to them. “There’s a public health is- sue,” said Permit and Project Manager Robert Evert about fecal coliform in the water and the mounds of feces with the ringworm fungus that Port staff clean up off docks. The Port has looked into galvanized steel railings — for years now — to keep sea lions from jumping up on docks. There is about 5,000 feet to cover on the Port’s three docks at the basin, Oper- ations Manager Matt McGrath said at a March 17 Port Com- mission meeting. The railings have worked in San Diego, but would cost $50,000. Evert added the Port will be meet- ing with Smith-Root Fisheries Technology next week, which creates a low-voltage matting JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian A branded sea lion rests on a dock in the East Mooring Basin. Branding the sea lions allow various groups to track them. JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Sea lions and seals rest on the docks of the East Mooring Basin Tuesday. The East Moor- ing Basin has four docks, two for boats and two for sea lions. for docks that is uncomfort- able for sea lions. In defense of sea lions For several years, the Sea Lion Defense Brigade has kept a regular presence at the basin, monitoring ODFW’s trapping and branding and re- porting on its Facebook page. Members snap photos of vis- itors who drop by to see sea lions and regularly attend Port meetings to testify on behalf of pinnipeds. “I want to talk about shar- ing on the second biggest river in North America,” Ninette Jones, brigade mem- ber, told the Port Commission March 17, after being told she couldn’t comment a second time on sea lions. Brigade members see sea lions as a scapegoat for larg- er issues, such as pollution, Sea lion survey The Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is conducting surveys of pinnipeds along the lower Columbia River. California sea lions observed since Feb. 11: 2,340 (East Mooring Basin, Astoria) 1,649 1,256 1,211 Source: Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Feb. 11 Feb. 20 Mar. 2 Mar. 20 EO Media Group graphic climate change, overfish- ing and thousands of miles of blocked fish passages. They’ve claimed that Sea Shepherd Conservation So- ciety once offered to pay for a sea lion haul-out, although the Port has previously de- nied being offered fund- ing. Regardless of whether they’re hauling out on Port docks or their own haul-out, Evert said, letting them on docks is akin to domesticat- ing a wild animal. The Port started shutting down the causeway to the East End Mooring Basin when ODFW is trapping and brand- ing sea lions to track them, a practice authorized in 2012 by NOAA and not as deadly as the euthanizations at Bon- neville Dam, but nonetheless controversial. Tensions over the practice came to a near boiling point Feb. 18, accord- ing to ODFW. Sea lions adapt to changing climate a few days at a time before returning to the rookeries to nurse their pups. But the unusually warm water has apparently shifted the distribution of their prey, making it harder for females WR¿QGHQRXJKIRRGWRVXSSRUW NOAA Northwest Fisheries the nutritional needs of their Science Center pups. Their hungry pups, it now appears, are struggling to In Southern California hun- gain weight and have begun dreds of starving sea lion pups striking out from the rooker- are washing up on beaches, ies on their own. Many do not ¿OOLQJ PDULQH PDPPDO FDUH make it and instead wash up centers that scarcely can hold on shore dead or emaciated. them all. Since the early 1970s the Meanwhile thousands of California sea lion popula- adult male California sea li- tion underwent unprecedent- ons are surging into the Pacif- ed growth. The species is ic Northwest, crowding onto protected by the 1972 Ma- docks and jetties in coastal rine Mammal Protection Act communities. and is estimated to number How can animals from the about 300,000 along the U.S. same population be struggling West Coast. But the growth in one region while thriving has slowed in recent years as in another? The answer lies ocean conditions have turned in the division of family re- especially unfavorable for sponsibilities between male juvenile survival. That could and female sea lions, and the lead to population declines in different ways each responds coming years, biologists say. to an everchanging ocean, ac- “We are working on data to cording to the National Oce- look at whether the population anic and Atmospheric Admin- might be approaching its re- istration’s Northwest Fisheries source limits,” Melin told re- Science Center in Seattle. porters in a recent conference “We’re seeing the popula- call. tion adjust to the environment Sea lions serve as an in- as the environment changes,” dicator of ocean conditions said Sharon Melin, a sea lion because they are visible and ELRORJLVWZLWKWKH¿VKHULHVVFL are sensitive to small environ- ence center. mental and ecological chang- The environmental chang- es, Melin said. The warm es affecting the sea lions can temperatures may well be be traced to unusually weak affecting other species in less winds off the West Coast over obvious ways. the last year. Without cooling “There are probably other winds, scientists say, the Pa- things going on in the ecosys- FL¿F 2FHDQ ZDUPHG DV PXFK tem we may not be seeing,” as 2 to 5 degrees Celsius she said. (35.6 to 41 degrees Farenheit) Bachelors above average. What started Unlike female sea lions, as a patchwork of warm wa- ter from Southern California males have no lasting obli- to Alaska in 2014 has since gations to females or young. grown into a vast expanse, After mating at the rookeries affecting everything from in midsummer, they leave plankton at the bottom of the the rookeries and roam as far food chain to sea lions near as Oregon, Washington and Alaska in search of food. the top. “The warming is about as “They’re bachelors,” said strong as anything in the his- Mark Lowry of the Southwest torical record,” said Nathan Fisheries Science Center in La Mantua, who leads the Land- Jolla, California. “They just scape Ecology Team at the JR ZKHUHYHU WKH\ FDQ WR ¿QG Southwest Fisheries Science something to eat.” Center. Male sea lions search out prey with high energy con- Struggle for food WHQW HVSHFLDOO\ RLO\ ¿VK VXFK The Channel Islands rook- as herring and sardines, said eries where nearly all Califor- Robert DeLong, who leads a nia sea lions raise their young program to study the Califor- off Southern California sit in nia Current Ecosystem at the the middle of the warm ex- Alaska Fisheries Science Cen- panse. Female sea lions have ter. Increasing numbers have strong ties to the rookeries. found their way to the mouth They take foraging trips of of the Columbia River to feed Females have trouble feeding pups when water gets warmer on increasingly strong runs of eulachon, also called smelt, and have taken up residence on docks and jetties near As- toria. “More sea lions learned last year and even more will learn this year that this is a JRRGSODFHWR¿QGIRRG´'H Long said of the Columbia River. “They’ve learned these ¿VK DUH WKHUH QRZ DQG WKH\ won’t forget that.” DeLong and Steve Jeffries, a research biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, attached satellite-linked tracking tags to 15 sea lions feeding on salmon near Bremerton (Wash.) in November and December. Four of those sea lions are now at the mouth of the Columbia, Jeffries said. Counts around Astoria rose from a few hundred in January to nearly 2,000 in February, exceeding numbers in previ- ous years at the same time. The count includes some an- imals from the eastern stock of Steller sea lions, removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 2013. The California sea lions also feed on spring chinook salmon and steelhead. Some of the chinook and steelhead stocks are listed under the Endangered Species Act and NOAA Fisheries is working ZLWK VWDWH RI¿FLDOV WR DGGUHVV sea lion predation. By the beginning of May, the male sea lions depart for the summer breeding season JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian Orange ribbon placed along the docks of the East Mooring Basin have been used successfully as a sea lion deterrent. ‘I want to talk about sharing on the second biggest river in North America.’ — Ninette Jones Sea Lion Defense Brigade member, talking to the Port Commission after being told she couldn’t comment a second time on sea lions Sall said a visitor to the basin had been approached by a branding protester. The vis- itor then approached and ha- rassed the ODFW employee, she said, before threatening to grab a shotgun and shoot her. Sall said ODFW reported the incident to the Oregon State Police, which couldn’t be reached for comment by press time. MORE ONLINE For more information on sea lion strandings, visit http://tinyurl.com/nxqhwkw For information on field research in the sea lion rookeries, visit http://tinyurl.com/no7heje For information on deterring problem seals and sea lions visit http://tinyurl.com/khbmfyw at the rookeries in Southern California. ³,W¶VOLNHÀLSSLQJDVZLWFK´ DeLong said. “Suddenly it’s time to go.” Warm conditions may continue The warm expanse of ocean extends to depths of 60 to 100 meters, Mantua said, and will likely take months to dissipate even if normal winds resume. Biologists expect poor feeding conditions for California sea lions will likely continue near their rookeries while warm ocean conditions persist. A more typical spring and sum- mer with strong and persistent winds from the north would cool the water and likely im- prove foraging conditions along the West Coast. The tropical El Niño just declared by NOAA is one wild card that may affect West Coast ocean conditions over the next year. If the El Niño continues RU LQWHQVL¿HV WKURXJK LW would favor winds and ocean currents that support another year of warm conditions along the West Coast. Consult a PROFESSIONAL LEO FINZI Q: Do you have a web site? A : We match prices with Yes. Visit BestBuy, Costco, astoriasbest.com Staples, etc. on all brands of new Check out our recommended computers. Fast, FREE SOFTWARE that will keep Friendly & Affordable your computer running quickly and smoothly. Upgrade or Repair Here Submit your personalized questions online for FREE help. Astoria ’ s Best Sign up for Carbonite online NETWORK AND backup, and a variety of other COMPUTER SALES, SERVICES & REPAIRS services directly on our website. 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