Sea Lion Bycatch and Entanglement

California sea lions and other marine mammals face growing threats from entanglement in fishing gear and competition with fisheries for prey species.

Key Facts

California sea lions have rebounded strongly from historic hunting to over 300,000 animals
Entanglement in fishing gear kills hundreds of sea lions annually
Plastic loops, fishing line, and net fragments can cut deeply into flesh as animals grow
Sea lions are highly intelligent and have been observed trying to remove entanglements
Conflict with salmon fisheries has led to controversial lethal removal programs
Sea lions are a keystone species in Pacific coastal ecosystems

Welfare Considerations

Sea lions entangled in netting, plastic rings, or fishing line experience progressive constriction injuries as they grow. What begins as a loose loop becomes a deep wound cutting through blubber and muscle, causing chronic pain, infection, and eventual death. Animals in this condition may survive for years in obvious distress before dying. Rescue and disentanglement operations are technically challenging and stressful for the animals, making prevention far more humane than intervention.

What You Can Do

Properly dispose of all fishing line, nets, and plastic loops
Support marine debris removal programs in sea lion habitats
Donate to organizations that rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals
Advocate for fishing gear designs that reduce entanglement risk
Support fisheries management that maintains adequate prey for marine mammals
Report entangled marine mammals to local wildlife authorities immediately