Steller sea lion
research > Research
The
North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium undertakes
research on marine mammals
The Consortium undertakes research on marine mammals and their interactions
with fisheries, other species and oceanographic conditions in the North
Pacific Ocean and Eastern Bering sea. It uses a variety of techniques,
including field studies, computer modeling, data reconstruction, and
captive animal research. The research program deals wiwth a variety of
North Pacific species, including Steller sea lions and killer whales.
Over the past few decades, major changes have
occurred in the abundance of seals, whales and sea birds breeding in
the North Pacific. In Alaska, harbor seal numbers are greatly reduced,
northern fur seals are depleted, while Steller sea lions have been
declared endangered in parts of their range. Similar declines have
been reported in some seabird breeding colonies. In British Columbia,
Steller sea lion numbers appear stable, but harbor seal populations
have increased rapidly. Further south, striking increases are being
observed in the range and abundance of elephant seals and California
sea lions.
Such large-scale changes may be a natural phenomenon
or may be connected with similar changes occurring concomitantly in
a number of commercial fisheries. All told, they stand to impact commercial
fisheries and the lives of peoples in coastal communities throughout
the North Pacific.
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