Easter Steller Sea Lions.
CREDIT: Jamie King, ADFG, July 12, 2007, taken during research conducted by Alaska Department of Fish and Game under NMFS Permit #358-1888.
CREDIT: Jamie King, ADFG, July 12, 2007, taken during research conducted by Alaska Department of Fish and Game under NMFS Permit #358-1888.
39 comments:
That is really great that sea lions are getting removed from the endangered species list. I can't believe that people would hunt something as cute as a sea lion. I am glad their population has increased since 1970. (By about 4.3 percent a year.) Hopefully, if the sea lions are taken off of the list, they will continue to thrive and not just put back on the list by hunters.
It would actually be bad if the populations of sea lions went up because it would harm the economy. Sea lions eat commercially valuable fish such as rockfish, anchovies and whiting. Sea lions have been known to destroying fishing nets and eating captured fish. This would harm the fishing industry.
I found this article very interesting I think that it was interesting that it can increase by about 4.3 percent a year. I am glad that they are getting removed from the endangered species list. I hope that they will stay off of the list, so that we can have a lot of sea lions around.
It's so great that the sea lions are being removed from the endangered species list! Or at least in my opinion.
I don't think that it would be bad for the economy if they were taken off of the list because if the sea lions would eat all of the rockfish (otherwise known as striped bass), which contain mercury, therefore decreasing our intake of rockfish, this would improve our health, therefore helping the government and the people. If fishermen will avoid areas that are known to inhabit sea lions, the net and fish problem would be taken care of. Also ask yourself this: If we just thought to ourselves, "Well, this species of animals makes our life harder, so let's just let them all become extinct," where would we be? What do we value most in our world? Our own selfish need of sea food? Or the well-being of the other animals that we share this planet with?
I guess you have to look at it from two perspectives. The sea lions would eat more of the rockfish, anchovies, and whiting, and that leaves less for the fishermen. Of course, we have to take into account the billions of fish harvested all around the world. I don't think that missing rockfish, anchovies, or whiting in some areas would cause damage to fishing industry as a whole, however, it would have damaging effects on the fishermen in that area.
This is definitely an interesting topic to debate about. There are several different thoughts that must be taken into account.
It is wonderful to see the sea lion population increasing! It is great how in 1997 there were 34,000 sea lions and now the population has soared up to 70,000. It was very sad to read about how people would shoot the sea lions because they were eating the fish. I hope that the sea lions can continue to stay off the list and that more people would realize that hunting animals is cruel and heartless.
Okay, more on this debate that I forgot.
If the sea lion was taken off of the endangered list, it would probably be hunted more, unless the slaughter of these innocent animals is made illegal. With this happening, the numbers would dwindle, causing the fish intake by the sea lions to become significantly less, helping the local and broader fishing industry as a whole. This would pretty much take us back to where we were when we were trying to help the sea lion. If the numbers were to dwindle, the species would be put back on the endangered species list, therefore making our efforts to preserve the sea lion's existence for nothing, causing the whole debate to go back to the beginning.
All of this confusion and complexity can be eliminated if the hunting of these animals is made illegal. I think that this is the most desirable choice, though not the most desirable to others. I just wonder why!
If they were not taken off the endangered species list they would stay protected by agencies, therefore increasing there existence by even more than 4.3% a year. This would probably increase the small amounts of rockfish, anchovies, and whiting immensely, causing harmful events in the fishing industry. This brings me back to the opinion of taking them off the endangered list.
The question pretty much goes down to: Do we want large amounts of rockfish, anchovies, and whiting, with the sea lions becoming even closer to extinction, or do we want to preserve the sea lion species and cut down on the aforementioned fish?
It's great that they are being removed from the endangered list and that the population is going up by 4.3 percent a year. They're so cute! I agree with Ryan that they should stay off the list. It's also very good that people do not shoot and hunt people as much.
It's amazing that the population of sea lion increases by 4.3% each year while the human population increases by only 1.096% each year.
It's not really that bad that sea lions contain mercury since to die of starvation is much more common than to die because of eating too much mercury. Also, saying that our own selfish needs aren't as import as the well being of other animals relates to business executives taking advantage of their workers.
I am glad that sea lions may be removed from the endangered species list. Hopefully, fishermen will not start shooting them again because they are eating their fish and ruining their nets. Rockfish, anchovies and whiting are a sea lions food, that is nature. The fishermen could move to a different area to fish or peacefully share the oceans resources with the sea lions who also deserve to eat and live. Sadly, once an animal is taken off the "endangered species list" they often find their numbers diminish due to the original problems (fishermen in this case.)
I'm not talking about how the sea lions should not eat the mercury, I'm talking about how if they eat the mercury-possessing fish, then it would benefit our health, having us not eat the fish.
Yes, it does relate to executives taking advantage. This is the issue that to most people would suggest a communistic living style for a solution, but that will probably never be done, with humans having a thirst for power.
It is great that sea lions are being taken off the list. I just wish we could have saved the golden toads. Anyway cant you just skip eating rockfish or anchovies for one day to save a practically endangered specie? I think that the government should ban hunting of all species that have been on the endangered list within 5 years to let them make a steady recovery.
I was surprised that the sea lions were getting removed off the endangered species list. After I read the article I understood.
Thank you, Gillian. You see my point.
It's definitely great that these sea lions are off the endangered list. I personally really like sea lions and seals, and think they are really cute. I don't think that their increasing in numbers would harm the economy, after all, the sea lions used to be at these numbers, so why should things be any different now? And, anyways, what would we do to bring the numbers down? We can't repeal the laws about the poachers, unless you want to make them extinct, and it would be just cruel to kill a whole bunch of them. Also, I am worried that once they are taken off the list, people will start beginning to get lax in the enforcement of the law about the poaching of these sea lions, so their numbers might decrease to worse than before without the stringent rules. The reasons why states are petitioning to have them removed is because the want to relax the enforcement! Also, I wonder why the numbers have increased in the Eastern Steller Sea Lions but not the Western.
I think that it is great that sea lions might be removed from the endangered list, since that shows that sea lions are making a recovery, and I think that it is a reminder to people that there is still hope for endangered animals, if we take the necessary steps for their recovery. But I also think that maybe it wouldn't be good to take sea lions off of the endangered list because then people might not be as careful as before and the sea lions might end up on the endangered list again. So, if they do take sea lions off of the endangered list, they still have to be careful.
Gillian, banning hunting of all species that have been on the endangered list within 5 years wouldn't stop people from killing sea lions because hunting means to pursue and capture/kill. Since the fishermen don't go out looking for sea lions to kill, it would still be legal because they aren't pursuing them.
The Eastern Steller Sea Lions don't just eat rockfish, anchovies and whiting but they've been known to eat capelin, cod, herring, mackerel, shrimp, pollock, rockfish, salmon, sand lance. Eastern Steller Sea Lions need to eat at least 6% of their weight per day. They can weigh up to 1,120 kilograms and can go as deep as 1,300 feet under sea level to find their food. As you can see, Eastern Steller Sea Lions will damage our fishing industry drastically. Since you have been talking about doing things for other species, if we committed genocide against the Eastern Steller Sea Lions it would help the species which it eats and humans.
This article made me feel really good about our environment. Although we still pollute tons, at least now we don't shoot innocent sea otters. The only problem with this news is that now, they can be shot at by petty fisherman. I hope they don't shoot them! It would be so tragic! Yes, Sergio it would hurt our industry, but it all comes down to the question which is more important: economy or environment. In normal times many would say environment, but in these tough times, I sadly think that about 90% will say economy. I do hope they stay off the list, though!
Anthony, you're wrong. The Eastern Steller sea lions are sea lions and not sea otters.
I think it is good that they are being removed. Sea lions are prospering now, and they don't need the service that other endangered animals do. I think this will be beneficial to endangered animals in the Pacific.
This article makes me feel great. It shows that people are actually making an effort to help. Hopefully the population will increase 4.3 percent a year. I don't think it would harm the economy too much. I'm glad they are no longer on the path of extinction.
Actually, people aren't making an effort to help. According to the article, people just are making an effort to not be harmful.
I'm so happy that sea lions are no longer considered endangered. I wonder why someone would want to hunt one, though. I hope they never get put on the list again.
I think that they should make it so that it is illegal to kill more than one animal from each species more than once a week, whether it be for food or for business reasons, which is on the endangered list. Just my idea. That would take a lot of persuading, though. I think that the once-a-week rule would definitely give the idea some consideration. Who knows? Maybe a new law could be thought out and planned over a sixth grade blog!
Sergio, if we committed genocide against the Eastern Stellar Sea Lions this would drastically hurt the killer whales that feed on them! Think of the orcas. They would be forced to only feed on Great White and Mako (along with other species) sharks, severely diminishing their numbers.
If you think about it, this problem is just like if several Americans decided to not eat sea food. This is like that because no one would buy the fish, giving them only a small income, like how the fishermen would only get a small amount of fish to sell, only giving them a small income, as before.
You cannot seriously say that by making an effort not to be harmful they are not making an effort to help! This is making an effort to help our marine life as a whole, including the Eastern Stellar Sea Lions. If there are people making an effort, this will help us to eliminate slaughter of innocent animals such as sea lions someday. (I hope that it comes sooner!)
Would you rather have them "be on the path of extinction" as Chloe said? I think it is much better that they are prospering than diminishing. This would cause the fishing industry a little trouble, but I think it is worth it for our generation's grandchildren to be able to see a sea lion instead of asking us what they were like, like we ask of the dinosaurs.
It's great that the sea lions aren't endangered anymore. I think it's awful that they were hunted because they ate fish that fishermen needed for their industry. Are we going to let a species die so that we can eat seafood? If the sea lions died out, then the orca whales probably would eventually as well, which would mean that we would be responsible for the extinction of two species that are crucial to ocean ecosystems. And all because we wanted to eat seafood. I don't know about anyone else but that sounds extraordinarily selfish. Who cares about the fishing industry! We can feed on things other than fish. The sea lions can't really. Like Ava said, our grandchildren should be able to see a real sea lion, instead of just seeing pictures.
This is a great article. The stellar seal population increased about 4.3% a year. It proves that we can make a change in the way we do things, and we can help. I've heard about animal cloning, and am wondering if there is a way to clone endangered species. If so, when can we start cloning them.
This was a great article. I am so happy that they are off the list. If they could increase 4.3 percent every year that would be amazing. It is so horrible that people would shoot them because they thought they were eating the fish. I thought it was really cool.
It is so great that animals are making it off the endangered species list! It is a danger that the sea lions might be put back on the list by hunters, and I really hope that doesn't happen. I can't believe that a hunter could shoot a sea lion. They're so cute! This was a great article and I am so grateful that the sea lions are off the endangered species list!
Ava, it wouldn't be a big deal if we committed genocide against a species. Killer whales/ orca whales can eat many other animals including:
1. fish
2. squid
3. seals
4. walruses
5. sea turtles
6. birds
7. otters
8. penguins
9. polar bears
10. reptiles
11. sharks
12. octopus
13. Other whales (It has been reported that killer whales can eat their own kind.)
With so many possible other preys, the killer whales wouldn't suffer much from not eating a few Eastern Steller sea lions which don't even make a big portion of their diet.
Aside from that, think of all of the people in the world that could escape starvation by eating the fish that the Eastern Steller sea lions would have eaten. (They eat a lot. 6% of their weight per day)
I know that it might be hard to take in but it is important to sacrifice for the greater good. It is best if we commit genocide against the Eastern Steller sea lions
I'm glad that sea lion populations are growing, but by releasing this article, hunters and trappers might decide to hunt them again. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
It's amazing that the Eastern Steller sea lions are being taken off the list because that is very rare. Since the list of the endangered animals was made, around 2,000 animals were placed on the list but only one animal has achieved recovery. If the Eastern Steller sea lion are taken off the list, they would be the second species get out of being endangered without getting closer to extinction.
I think that it is amazing that the sea lions are getting removed from the endangered species list because they have been through like in the article it said that one reason why they are on the endangered species list was that a lot of people were shooting them and catching them. I also am happy for the sea lions because they don't have to try and hide from people anymore but they have to keep a watch out for their predators like whales and maybe polar bears. Another reason why I am glad for these animals is because this is one of my favorite animals and I wouldn't want them to become extinct. If this animal were I think people would be devastated because even though there are many other sea animals it would be sad to see one of them go, especially these. These sea animals deserve to live long like us even though they are animals. I am so glad the population of the sea lions have increased. Even though they might be removed from the endangered species list we should still look after these animals.
I think that if the sea lions were removed off the endangered species list this would hurt their population number in a bad way. When a species is on the endangered species list, there are companies that raise money and make fundraisers to fund them. Species that are not on the list are completely forgotten about and these companies move onto another species that is on the endangered species list and needs help. SO, being on the endangered species list would actually help them because they would have companies funding them. I think some people are neglecting the fact that if this species becomes extinct there will still be sea lions left in the world. The Steller sea lions are endangered, not the entire sea lion population.
Ava's comment made me remember about something I read in a book. It is definately good that the sea lions are being taken off of the endangered species list. Those sea lions are so cute!
THis is great news! It must have made NOAA feel great when they saw the population increase by 4.3 percent! Maybe people will realize how not killing animals can make such a difference in their population, and other animal slaughter will be stopped. However, once it's off the endangered list, will the population keep on growing? Some people won't know that the sea lions are just off the list, and they might still kill the sea lions without knowing all of the rules!
Sergio, I have a question. Do you think that we should commit genocide against the Eastern Steller Sea Lions, or do you think we shouldn't? You are kind of sending me mixed messages here.
Ben, what did it remind you of?
I do see your point about the genocide issue. I admit that it would not create such an impact in our food chain as to cause permanent damage, but it would be horrible to just delete our work to preserve their species by just killing them off. Also, I don't even know why we commit genocide against any animal! I mean, they are living on our planet, too, right? They have a chance to live. We may be more intelligent, more powerful, and we have an empire that will not cease anytime soon, but they have communication of their own. They have breeding cycles that they go through which they do not need to be taught. That is just a miracle, that species do not need to be taught simple things like breathing or how to swallow, or blink. It's just our intuition. They are intelligent in our own way, and we do not have complete power over them, no matter what we think. We cannot stop them from knowing how to breathe, or sleep, or eat. We cannot control their knowledge, like they cannot control ours. I think that it would be inhumane and completely wrong to commit such a sinful crime against a fellow Earth dweller. I am disgusted at the human race that such a word is even muttered off the tongue of authorities, having that even be an option for our next decision as a country, a continent, a world. Killing any living animal is such an unthinkable topic.
Okay, that was a little harsh and one-sided. I understand that there are population issues and this might be a desirable option to some leaders, though there are several solutions to this. For one, there is always the thought that we could let the species live, stop eating animals, (yes, we would all become herbivores!) and let nature take its course. So many people around the world object to this because they do not wish to give up their meat and "comfort food", whatever that may be.
There are so many sides to this argument/topic!
I do think that the Eastern Steller sea lions should be killed. First of all, you can't say that it's unfair to kill animals but we already do that all the time. With war, punishments, suicides, homicides, accidents, 1st to 4th degree murder, etc, we are already killing of a cute furry animal: humans. Your point makes no sense. You don't think that we should kill animals when they can be over 1000 kg and must eat at least 6% of their weight but that we can against humans.
Thank you for admitting that there are good things that come out of killing them. This planet is over populated and we already have people who are starving. Why can't you agree that it's best to lower that number. As already posted, this is just a group of sea lions that are bad to human society. This like when you own a farm and one of the animals gets sick. You have to kill it.
We might all be earth dwellers but doesn't mean we should be nice to each other things. For example, if you could kill Hitler would you. YES! It doesn't matter that it is similar to us.
Does anybody think I'm wrong?
Fine, you have a valid point. You are correct.
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