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 Publication Announcement: Sea Lions of the World
At the end of World War II, Lowell Wakefield
founded the Alaskan king crab industry with a modest fleet and a simple
understanding. He knew that maintaining a successful fishery required
two key ingredients: a quality product for the consumer, and sound
management practices based on the best available science. With this ‘sound science’ approach
to fisheries, Wakefield created a sustainable seafood empire for which
Alaska became famous.
In honor of his contributions to fisheries, the University of Alaska
convened the Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium as a forum for scientists
and resource managers to share their knowledge and experiences. In September
2004, the 22nd Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, Sea Lions of
the World, convened to discuss the poorly understood but potentially
significant interactions between sea lions and fisheries.
Alternatively vilified by fishers and embraced by conservationists,
it remains unclear whether sea lions and their voracious appetites are
responsible for declines in human fisheries, or vice versa. There are
as many opinions on the hotly contested topic as there are unanswered
questions. What is clear, however, is that the issue will only be resolved
by a collaborative effort between fisheries managers and conservation-minded
researchers.
Charting a Course
Sea Lions of the World provided the necessary congress, bringing
together the world community of sea lion authorities for five days of
meetings and presentations. Their goal: to address current knowledge
of world sea lion populations in order to compare them with Steller sea
lions, which are in serious decline in some parts of Alaska, and to identify
areas for further research.
Sea Lions: A Global Snapshot
In the North Pacific, Steller sea lions are
endangered in parts of their range and are considered threatened
with extinction in others. In contrast, populations of California
sea lions are sharply rising in Mexico and California.
Elsewhere, the Japanese subspecies of the California sea lion is probably extinct
and the Galapagos subspecies is in low numbers. Populations of New Zealand
sea lions and Australian sea lions are also extremely low, with major declines
recently reported in Australia. Relatively little is known about the South
American sea lion.
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By comparing the status of other
sea lion species, participants attempted to understand why some
populations are declining while others are increasing. Papers on
various topics – such as fisheries interactions, parasites,
contaminants, pup survival, foraging, wintering and historical
fluctuations – were submitted by researchers from around
the world, including eight by Consortium researchers.
The Sea Lions of the World symposium
not only provided a forum for healthy discussion, but allowed all
parties to chart a course for future conservation, management and
research efforts. To this end, the conference proceedings were
recently published and are available for purchase online. (http://seagrant.uaf.edu/bookstore/pubs/AK-SG-06-01.html)
Populations of all five sea lion species are
in flux around the world, and a better understanding of sea lion
biology is urgently needed. By compiling current knowledge and
forging new directions for research, symposium participants took
a valuable step forward in fulfilling Lowell Wakefield’s
vision of collaboration between researchers and policy makers.
For the sea lions of the world, this can only be progress.
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Sea Lions of the World
Table of Contents:
(click on additional contents pages
below to see all contents)
contents
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12 September 2006
Publication:
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Sea Lions of the World.
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Trites, A.W., S. Atkinson, D.P. DeMaster, L.W. Fritz, T.S. Gelatt, L.D. Rea, and K. Wynne (eds). 2006.
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Alaska Sea Grant Alaska College Program, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. 664 pages
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abstract
The goal of the symposium was to bring together scientists and resource
managers to address knowledge of world sea lion populations in order
to compare them with Steller sea lions, and to identify research needs.
managers to address knowledge of world sea lion populations in order
to compare them with Steller sea lions, and to identify research needs.
Changes in the worldwide abundance of sea lions is of growing concern to fisheries and conservation groups, because fisheries are feared
to threaten sea lions, and/or because sea lions are feared to threaten
fisheries. Over the past few decades, major changes have been noted in
the abundance of all five species of sea lions around the world. In the
North Pacific, the Steller sea lion has been declared endangered in parts
of its range and is considered threatened with extinction in others. This
is in contrast to the rapid increase in populations of California sea lions
in Mexico and California. Elsewhere, the Japanese subspecies of the California sea lion is probably extinct and the Galapagos subspecies is in low
numbers. Numbers of New Zealand sea lions and Australian sea lions are
also extremely low, with major declines recently reported in Australia.
Relatively little is known about the South American sea lion.
This symposium brought the world community of sea lion researchers and policy makers together to share their experiences and knowledge
with each other. Interspecies comparisons can shed light on why some
populations might decline while others increase. Insights might also be
gained on whether trends in the abundance of sea lions are related to
fishing activities through food dependencies or more directly through
control or conservation measures. A better understanding of the biology
of sea lions is urgently needed. The symposium significantly contributed
to the understanding of fluctuating sea lion populations, especially as
they compare to the Steller sea lion, by synthesizing current knowledge
and forging new directions.
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