Lee James Pantas
Who Liza's Reef Is Helping
This page is an introduction to the endangered seals and sea lions of our world. Links at the bottom of the page will take
you to some of the best resource sites out there for more in-depth information. The
best sites to start with are marked with a star
.
There are
33
species of seals, sea lions, furs seals and walruses, or pinnipeds as they are known
scientifically. Of these the Hawaiian monk seal
(Monachus
schauinslandi) , the
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus
monachus), the Guadalupe fur seal
(Arctocephalus
townsendi), the Saimaa seal
(Phoca hispida saimensis) and
Steller's sea lion
(Eumetopias jubatus)
are listed as endangered by the IUCN/World
Conservation Union. Just recently declared extinct, and last seen
in 1952, was the Caribbean monk seal. Seals and sea lions are found in
all of the world's oceans, and in a few freshwater lakes, including Lake
Baikal in Russia. Many nations, including the United States, are
actively attempting to protect endangered seal populations but the
battle is far from over. The most endangered seal in the world is the
Mediterranean monk seal, whose numbers are estimated to be between 400 and
650 individuals.
There are three families
of living pinnipeds that are recognized, the Phocidae (hair seals
or true seals), the Otaridae (fur seals and sea lions) and the
Obobenidae (walrus). The term pinnipedia translates from Latin as
"fin foot". All of these species come ashore to breed, give birth and
to nurse their young.
Most of the world's populations of seals live near Antarctica and the Artic Circle, vast regions of ice that have few human inhabitants. Those in the Artic are more threatened than those in the Antarctic since their domain is also shared by humans, foxes, wolves and other predators. Other seal populations that are scattered around the world are severely threatened primarily due to the activities of man and the resulting pollution and loss of habitat and competition for prey species. Commercial hunting of seals in the 18th and 19th centuries, and in the early part of this century, played a huge role in pinniped population declines. There was a massive slaughter of fur seals wherever they were found, from the Aleutian Islands to the Antarctic and the shores and islands of all of the major continents. Seals are especially vulnerable when on land, breeding and having their young, as they are slow and ponderous and can easily be blocked from entering the sea. Bludgeoning to death with clubs and bats was a common and savagely brutal means to harvest these helpless creatures. The Northern fur seal inhabits the North Pacific from California to Japan and was estimated to number over 4.5 million in 1870. In forty short years the population was reduced to only 200,000 by 1914. Similar declines in other species was commonplace.
Today, the slaughter
continues. Exploitation of South African fur seals (Arctocephalus
pusillus) began in 1610 and is still going on. Their major
population is along the southwestern coast of Africa, but they also
range as far as Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. By the end of the
19th century, their populations along the coasts of Angola, Namibia and
South reached dangerously low levels and sealing (or harvesting of
seals) was curtailed. After increases in the 20th century, a large
commercial harvest of 75,000 was authorized on a population that was
estimated at 1,100,000. This species is the only fur seal still killed
in large, legal kills. In 2000, 60,000 were slaughtered. Fisherman
pressure the government to maintain this kill, claiming that the fur
seals harm fish stocks. Fur dealers also of course are in on the action,
eager for seal pelts. The hunt in Namibia was filmed in 2000 and aired
on CNN showing young male seals on shore being killed by men clubbing
them with wooden bats. At the present time, activists are attempting to
end this inhumane hunt. Annual seal hunts still also continue in Canada,
under much protest from animal rights and environmental groups.
The American National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has jurisdiction over four species of pinnipeds in the U.S. that are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). These are the Caribbean monk seal (thought to be extinct), the Guadalupe fur seal, the Hawaiian monk seal and the Stellar sea lion. The Hawaiian monk seal is currently one of the world's most endangered marine mammals. Once believed to have occurred throughout the Hawaiian islands, it is now largely restricted to the small, rocky islands northwest of Hawaii. They are also found on the Midway Islands, Maro Reef, Gardner Pinnacles, Necker Island and Nihoa Island. The total population is estimated to be only slightly more than 1,000 individuals. Even smaller in number is the Mediterranean monk seal, whose population is less than 500.
The links below will take you to
some great websites about seals & sea lions.
The best sites to start for general information are marked with a
star
.
If you have a site that you think should be listed,
please
email me.
Official,
Scientific & Governmental Sites
Endangered Species Organizations
Seal & Sea Lion Observation
Seal
& Sea Lion Conservation Groups
Other Countries
Seal
& Sea Lion Species
Seal & Sea Lion Rescue & Rehabilitation
Mass Extinction of Species
The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums
The
Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums is an international
association representing marine life parks, aquariums, zoos, research
facilities, and professional organizations dedicated to the highest
standards of care for marine mammals and to their conservation in the
wild through public education, scientific study, and wildlife
presentations.
Endangered Species Handbook: Fur Seals
The Endangered Species
Handbook is a superb overview of some of the major endangered species on
the planet. A great resource.
Marine Mammal Commission
The Marine Mammal Commission is an
independent agency of the U.S. Government, established under Title II of
the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It was created to provide independent
oversight of the marine mammal conservation policies and programs being
carried out by the federal regulatory agencies.
Seal Conservation Society
A
non-profit charitable organization, the Society was set up in the spring
of 1996 with the aim of protecting and conserving pinnipeds worldwide.
This is a superb resource site with a world view. It's all here!
Sea Shepherd webpage on Canadian Seal Slaughter
The Canadian commercial
seal hunts are the largest mass slaughter of marine mammals in the
world.
Pinnipeds
The National Marine Mammal Laboratory's
Education Website.
Threatened, Endangered, and Depleted Seals and Sea Lions
1998 NOAA International
Year of the Ocean webpage
ICUN World Conservation Union
The World Conservation
Union is the world’s largest and most important conservation network.
The Union brings together 82 States, 111 government agencies, more than
800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists
and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The
Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies
throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature
and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and
ecologically sustainable.
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation
Monitoring Centre
The
United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the
biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world's foremost
intergovernmental environmental organization.
US Fish & Wildlife Webpages on Endangered Species
The American endangered
species list maintained by the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Word Conservation Union ICUN Red List of Endangered Species
IUCN
- The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission
(SSC) has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of
species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a
global scale in order to highlight species threatened with extinction,
and therefore promote their conservation.
Sea Lion Caves
See wild sea lions. Located 11
miles north of Florence on the Oregon Coast
ENGLAND
Seal
Conservation Society
A
non-profit charitable organization, the Society was set up in the spring
of 1996 with the aim of protecting and conserving pinnipeds worldwide.
This is a superb resource site. It's all here!
SCOTLAND
Dolphins & Seals of the Moray Frith
Website focusing on the
marine mammals of the Moray Frith in the North Sea.
UNITED
KINGDOM
World Wildlife Fund UK: Seals
Webpage devoted to seals
of the United Kingdom
CALIFORNIA SEA LION
Marine Mammal Center webpage on California Sea Lions
General information webpage
CARIBBEAN MONK
SEAL -EXTINCT
Caribbean Monk Seal
Monachus.
org website profile of Caribbean Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site dedicated to
the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
GUADALUPE FUR SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Guadalupe Fur Seal
General information webpage
HARBOR SEAL
Richmond Bridge Harbor Seal Survey
The Richmond Bridge
Harbor Seal Survey (RBHSS) is a joint project of Caltrans and San
Francisco State University
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Harbor Seals
General information
webpage
HARP SEAL
Harpseals.org
Harpseals.org is an all
volunteer, non-profit organization with one goal: to permanently end the
annual Canadian Harp Seal slaughter.
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Monachus.
org website profile of Hawaiian Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site dedicated to
the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
Hawaiian Monk Seals
Webpage of
Emily Gardner M.S., Hawaii's Marine Wildlife: Whales, Dolphins, Turtles,
and Seals, A Course of Study
Pacific Whale Foundation Website: The Hawaiian Monk Seal
The mission
of the Pacific Whale Foundation is to inspire and promote appreciation,
understanding and protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs and our
planet's oceans.
MEDITERRANEAN MONK
SEAL
Animal Info: Mediterranean Monk Seal
Webpage
devoted to this seal. Excellent resource site.
Mediterranean Monk Seal
Monachus.
org website profile of Mediterranean Monk Seal. Monachus is an
Internet Site dedicated to
the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals
MOm/Hellenic Society For The Study And Protection Of The Monk Seal
Non-profit,
non-governmental environmental organization founded in 1988 by a
team of marine biologists and environmental researchers. Its aims are to
research and study the biology, ecology and behavior of the
Mediterranean Monk Seal and to conserve it through any legal means.
NORTHERN ELEPHANT
SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Northern Elephant Seal
General information
webpage
NORTHERN FUR
SEAL
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Northern Fur Seal
General information
webpage
STELLER'S SEA
LION
American Museum of Natural History webpage on Steller's Sea Lions
American Museum of
Natural History - a source you can trust!
Marine Mammal Center webpage on Steller's Sea Lions
General information
webpage
Sea Lions and Seals in Oregon
Oregon State
University's Oregon Sea Grant webpage.
Steller's Sea Lions
NOAA Fisheries website
on Alaska's Steller's Sea Lions
Marine Mammal Stranding Center
Dedicated to the rescue,
rehabilitation and release of marine mammals and sea turtles.
Seal Conservation Society Rescue & Rehabilitation Organizations
A master list of most of the
world's seal rescue and rehab organizations.
American
Museum of Natural History Statement
The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species
Professor David Ulansey's Website -Mass Extinction Underway