Hundreds of Seal Lion Pups Washing Up on SoCal Beaches

These strandings coupled with a drop in the number of pelican chicks fledging on Anacapa Island could mean a decline in anchovies and sardines.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/sea-lion-pup-stranding/all/

Ken Salazar just released a statement blaming the Drakes Bay Oyster Company.

Whatever is going on, it seems like it could be a bad deal all around.  These guys sit near the top of the food chain... and we all know sh@t rolls downhill.

It seems to me that it could be a decline in food. The populations of seals is higher than it has been in decades and the food supply is becoming smaller from commercial fishing demands. Another idea is that the shark population in that area has in fact declined and there is not enough predation to cull the weaker pups causing starvation for all of this seasons whelping. It will be interesting to follow this one.

I have this nagging fear that "they" will use this sort of information to push for more fishing closures.  I find it really hard to jump to conclusions on events like this.  Remember a few years back when there was a banner sardine year here in the Bay Area?  That same winter, we had bunch of pups starving similar to this.  No rhyme or reason about that.  I dont' recall ever hearing the reason why either.

-Allen

  Wonder how they taste  BBQ 'd 

I have this nagging fear that "they" will use this sort of information to push for more fishing closures. 

My thought exactly.
It amazes how 'they' are all about nature but 'they' won't let nature take it's course.
If nature deems these pups be removed then so be it.
The abalone die off was nature taking it's course. This is no different.

  Only 20 percent of african lion cubs live to two years old.

  The sea lion thing may be mostly forage related, but I don't think  rescue operations are helping them as a species.

 

It would make for a great landlord lure!

I have this nagging fear that "they" will use this sort of information to push for more fishing closures.  I find it really hard to jump to conclusions on events like this.  Remember a few years back when there was a banner sardine year here in the Bay Area?  That same winter, we had bunch of pups starving similar to this.  No rhyme or reason about that.  I dont' recall ever hearing the reason why either.

-Allen

Unfortunately this seems to be their track record. "They" killed Kenny too.

I have this nagging fear that "they" will use this sort of information to push for more fishing closures. 

My thought exactly.
It amazes how 'they' are all about nature but 'they' won't let nature take it's course.
If nature deems these pups be removed then so be it.
The abalone die off was nature taking it's course. This is no different.

+1 on both. There are LOTS of them, no need to spend OUR money on saving an animal that is not in trouble numbers wise.