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the california sea lions in the westport marina

are growing in population. in 2009, the marina reported a growth of around 2 or 3 to 12 in number. In 2011, just prior to the annual breeding season, there were about 35 sea lions hanging out in the marina. Last summer there were 220 male California Sea Lions counted on the Westport Marina Docks. 
Picture
SEA LION ON FLOAT #6 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ROCKFISH CARCASSES DISCARDED IN WATER.
the issue of the growing sea lion numbers is not about bad sea lions or bad humans, but the negative impacts of when hungry sea lions and hungry humans, looking for fish and crab, interact when they probably shouldn't.



PLEASE DON'T FEED THE SEA LIONS!

MUCH LIKE OURSELVES HERE AT THE AQUARIUM, WHEN SEA LIONS KNOW THAT FOOD IS PLENTIFUL, THEY WILL COME BACK WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND DEMAND IT. IN PAST YEARS THE AQUARIUM HAS RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF SEA LIONS JUMPING ON THE DOCK, CHASING DOGS AND PEOPLE WITH CRAB POTS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN TEMPTED WITH FREE FOOD.
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feeding marina mammals is illegal.

16 U.S.CODE, SECTION PROVIDES FOR ISSUANCE OF FINES OF $20,000 FOR VIOLATIONS.
http://www.southwestwashingtonzest.com/2009/11/adventures-on-washington-states-cranberry-coast-part-ii/
PROVIDED THE ABOVE PHOTO. CHECK OUT THE LINK WITH THE STORY.

READ ON.... WITH WWW BLOG POSTS.

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/510219/1.html

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/510271/Re_cockles

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=52765.0

ongoing reports.....

5/7/12. report of sea lion jumping on dock at float #5 and taking crab bait from a man while he was loading the baitbox of his crab trap. visited site and spotted folks filleting halibut on a table on the dock while a sea lion waited in the water for scraps.

5/16/12. report of of of three sea lions on float #7 blocking the main dock. reporting party tried to get around the sea lion and was chased down the dock for approximately 50'-75'. reporting party left immediately.

SPRING 2012. REPORT OF SEA LION ATTEMPTING TO BOARD BOAT AT FUEL DOCK TO GET TO FISH ON DECK.

6/10/12. 70 year old man gets in to tug of war with his crab pot with a sea lion on float #20. sea lion finally let go when the lion was able to retrieve the bait from the pot. the man's two carbbing companions already had their crab pots raided previously.

7/9/12. GOT BEHIND ON UPDATING SEA LION REPORTS. HEY, WE RUN AN AQUARIUM, YOU KNOW. BUT HERE ARE A FEW WE GOT JUST BEFORE MATING SEASON. MOST SEA LIONS ARE GONE FROM MARINA TO HAUL OUT ELSEWHERE TO FIND GIRLFRIENDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION......

                *** GRANDMOTHER FROM IDAHO ON VACATION HAS GRANDCHILDREN WITH HER 
                        ON DOCK. TURNS AROUND TO FIND SEA LION ON                          FLOAT  BLOCKING WAY.  SOME OTHER GUY IS HANDING FISH PARTS TO HIS KIDS.. 
                       "HERE HONEY, FEED IT TO THE SEA LIONS". A FELLOW NEARBY YELLS TO HIM "STOP
                            FEEDING THE SEA LIONS!!!!" THE GUY RESPONDS WITH A RUDE MANUAL GESTURE
                            AND CONTINUES. GRANDMOTHER TELLS HER KIDS THAT SHE'LL DISTRACT THE
                            SEA LION AND WHEN SHE GIVES THE SIGNAL... RUN!!!! SHE AND HER GRANDKIDS 
                            SUCCESSFUL MAKE IT OFF THE FLOAT. HOWEVER, SHE RELATES THAT SHE'S NEVER
                            COMING BACK TO WESTPORT.

                *** MAN FILLETING SALMON ON DOCK AND FLIPPING FISH BITS IN TO WATER. GOES TO 
                        RINSE HIS FILLETS IN WATER. SEA GRABS OTHER END. SALMON FILLET TUG-OF-WAR
                        ENSUES. HE GETS BACK SOME OF HIS FISH. SEA LION JUMPS ON DOCK AND STARTS
                        CHASING HIM DOWN FOR THE REST. WDFW ENFORCEMENT AGENT IS NEARBY. GOES
                        DOWN TO SCENE AND "SHOOES" OFF SEA LION WITH SEAL BOMB (IT'S LIKE A BIG 
                        FIECRACKER). 

                **** OLDER COUPLE ARE ON FLOAT 20 IN CHAIRS, WAITING TO CHECK THEIR CRAB POTS.
                            SMALL FAMILY DOG IS ON DOCK BETWEEN THEM. SEA LION LAUNCHES OUT OF WATER
                            AND GRABS DOG. DOG NOT RECOVERED. 
                ........ Labor Day, 2012. Sea Lions returned from mating. Still being fed by errant fisherman and boats. about 15 sea lions in boat basin right now
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