Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
Resources
Status
- BC: Blue – S3S4B, S4N (2022)
- COSEWIC: Special Concern
- SARA: Special Concern (2005)
- Global: Vulnerable (2016)
- Galiano Island Status: Confirmed
Description
Large, tan sea lions weighing between 180 and 1000 kg. During the non-breeding season they prey mainly upon schooling fishes such as herring, hake, pollock, dogfish and salmon.
Habitat
Rich near-coastal waters and rocky beaches around the rim of the Pacific Ocean.
Range
Occurs along the coastal rim of the north Pacific Ocean, from California to the Bering Sea and Kurile Islands.
Threats
The population was greatly reduced in the first half of the 20th century due to predator control programs and commercial harvests. Its populations have been rebounding since it was given protected status.
Galiano Status
A population gathers annually at Porlier Pass, and is found in shallow waters around Galiano Island, primarily during the winter months.