Open Water Research Station for Research of Steller Sea Lions at Sea

Sea Lions Join Open Ocean Research Program

Two Steller sea lions (Sitka and Bonilla) recently moved from the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre to a waterfront research station to prepare for upcoming open water studies.

While at the Aquarium, the sea lions participate in comprehensive studies designed to develop new research techniques and to explore the hypotheses that are thought to explain the population decline of Steller sea lions in Alaska and Russia. The studies are providing information that is otherwise unobtainable from wild animals.

To fully compliment the studies at the Aquarium, two of the sea lions have moved to an open water research station in Port Moody for continued research. The research station consists of a converted Yukon River boat and a specially designed floating pen to house the sea lions.

Bonilla wearing her open water harness to carry scientific instruments.

The Steller sea lions are being trained to swim and dive freely while accompanying scientists in the field. They will be participating in a wide range of research that cannot be achieved in captivity or with wild animals. These studies include diving physiology, energetics, and swimming biomechanics. The ultimate aim of the research is to determine the food requirements of the wild population. The new research facility also allows scientists to develop and test new techniques for studying wild animals. At the end of 4 months Sitka and Bonilla will return to the Aquarium and another two trained sea lions will move to Port Moody.

Research at the Aquarium and in the wild is designed to resolve what has happened to sea lions and what might be done to help them recover.

17 September 2003