Are Steller sea lions endangered?
Since 1980, more than 75 per cent of the Steller sea lion population has disappeared, leaving the current wild population with less than 75,000 individuals. In 1990, Steller sea lions were listed as “threatened” under the United States Endangered Species Act. In 1997, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service reclassified some populations of Steller sea lions in Alaska as “endangered”. Why are Steller sea lions disappearing? Scientists are currently researching why Steller sea lion populations are declining. Possible reasons for this include an increase in parasites, disease, predation by killer whales, environmental factors and nutritional stress caused by natural changes in the abundance or quality of key prey species, or by competition with other species, including humans, for food. What is the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre doing to help solve the puzzle of the disappearing Steller sea lions? In 1993 the Aquarium, in partnership with the North Pacific Universities Marine
