Sea lions are intelligent, social pinnipeds that frequently interact with fisheries. Managing these interactions reduces welfare harm to sea lions and fishing conflict.
Wild sea lion welfare involves both acute and chronic threats. Entanglement injuries — particularly neck wounds from packing bands and monofilament — cause slow, painful deaths or debilitating injuries that prevent normal foraging. Domoic acid toxicosis from algal blooms causes seizures, disorientation, and often fatal neurological damage in affected animals; rehabilitation is possible for mildly affected individuals but severely toxic animals often die or must be euthanised. Fishery conflict represents a welfare risk at two levels: sea lions injured or killed in conflict, and the chronic stress of repeated deterrence. Non-lethal conflict management — acoustic deterrents, modified gear, exclusion zones — protects sea lion welfare while maintaining fishery viability.