Sea Lions Sink Boats in Newport Harbor

[richandlori]

Sea Lions Sink Boats in Newport Harbor
By Roy Rivenburg, Times Staff Writer


Think of them as amphibious sumo wrestlers. A pack of rowdy sea lions has invaded Newport Harbor, sinking boats, thrashing docks and, with their nonstop barking, turning residents into sleepless zombies.

In a scene that has played out up and down the West Coast, the whiskered creatures are charming tourists but exasperating local officials, who are considering a bizarre array of methods to thwart the federally protected mammals.

Tonight, the Harbor Commission will discuss the situation, which took on added urgency after 18 sea lions piled onto a 37-foot sailboat this month and sank it.

The sheriff's harbor patrol has been fielding at least two noise complaints a day, Sgt. David Ginther said.

"A barking dog doesn't hold a candle to this. It's like 40 barking dogs in SurroundSound," grumbled Balboa Peninsula resident Darci Schriber.

For relief, she and her neighbors contemplated painting a small electric boat to look like an orca, complete with piped-in whale sounds.

Seattle tried a similar idea nine years ago after sea lions raided Puget Sound and devoured endangered steelhead trout at a fish ladder. The fiberglass whale, dubbed "Fake Willy," was anchored underwater as an aquatic scarecrow.

It didn't work. Neither did rubber bullets, underwater noises, firecrackers or other methods.

Sea lions have also tormented Monterey, trapping people aboard boats, attacking city workers and defecating and vomiting on docks.

Elsewhere, the animals have attacked swimmers, chomped boogie boards and even yanked people off boats.

Once hunted to the brink of extinction, California sea lions now number 300,000 to 400,000 off U.S. shores, thanks largely to the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, which made it illegal to kill, injure or harass the creatures.

Some Newport Beach residents fear that their harbor could be the next one overrun by sea lions, which typically weigh 200 to 800 pounds.

Could a mass invasion really happen?

"Definitely," said marine biologist Doyle Hanan, a former state Fish and Game Department official who has been working with federal officials on gadgets to deter the sea lions. Along the West Coast, he said, "it's a growing problem and it's going to continue to grow."

[Captain Steve]

If 18 Sea Lions sink a 37 foot sailboat..how many does it take to sink a Mac?....with out ballast???? lets see it takes one to sink 2 feet of boat....13 should do it..but we got that pesky foam stuck everywhere...make it 30 to be sure!

[RandyMoon]

It sounds like it is time to open up hunting season again.

[Frank C]

It sounds like it is time to open up hunting season again.

No need Randy ... wait a coupla' years. Global warming's gonna force 'em north to Seattle.

[richandlori]

The funny/tragic thing about the situation is that in Ca, you can almost get as much jail time for harrassing/injouring a marine mammal as you can for killing someone while driving drunk.

As with most sailors, I love the ocean and all of its creatures, but there is something about priorities.

Rich

[Catigale]

Doesnt seal meat taste like chicken??

[jklightner]

Doesnt seal meat taste like chicken??

Nope, more like a very gamy beef, and greasy.