Fluctuations in seal lion abundance and prey consumption in northwest Washington

April 22, 2025

Jonathan J. Scordino, Master of Science, Researcher at Makah Fisheries Management, Neah Bay, Washington

California and Steller sea lions are large-bodied predators of the northern California Current Ecosystem. Historically, hunting of these two sea lion species by Native Americans regulated their distribution and abundance. The two populations of sea lions have experienced rapid increases in abundance along the shores of the contiguous United States since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 and shifts in their distribution. The objective of this talk is to share how Steller and California sea lion abundance and prey consumption has fluctuated in recent decades in northwest Washington. We’ll also explore what the two species of sea lions eat and how the fluctuations in their prey consumption could be affecting their local ecosystem.