(New York Daily News)
National
Shocking video shows effects of marine debris on sea lions in Alaska: report
Heartbreaking shots show animals strangled by plastic loops, choking on fishing lures
BY PHILIP CAULFIELD / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 3:16 PM
YOUTUBE
Hundreds of sea lions in southeast Alaska have been harmed by plastic loops and bands that become caught around their necks.
Wildlife officials in Alaska have released a shocking video documenting the effects of fishing gear and other marine debris on a species of seas lions facing extinction.
The heartbreaking footage includes scenes of the animals with their necks tightly bound by packing bands used to secure bait boxes and other containers aboard fishing boats.
The thick plastic bands cut deep grooves into the sea lions' necks, causing strangulation in some cases.
In other shots, seals who have swallowed fishing hooks can be seen with large metal flashers - used to attract salmon and other fish - dangling from their mouths.
In at least once case, Alaska Department of Fish and Game researchers discovered a seal that had become trapped in a pink windsock, a cone-shaped tube used to show wind direction.
The creature's flippers became pinned to her body and she drowned, according to the video.
Alaskan scientists studied the effects of debris on eastern Steller sea lions along the southeastern coast of Alaska from between 2000 and 2007.
The results of the study were first reported by science news website LiveScience.
During the study, the scientists found nearly 400 animals that had been tangled, injured or killed by sea junk in waters off Alaska and Canada - though they believe scores more have been affected, LiveScience reported.
"We are certainly underestimating the number of animals entangled," study researcher Lauri Jemison told the site.
Other seals in the video are shown with fishing lures, flashers and hooks hanging from their mouths. In some cases, the seals swallow the fishing gear.
(Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
"We go out every summer here in southeastern Alaska and we try to visit every haul out (where the sea lions come to shore) and rookery (where they breed) at least once."
The researchers said they hope the study and the video will raise awareness about marine pollution among casual and commercial fisherman.
The group has adopted the "Loose the Loops" slogan to encourage fishermen to cut any plastic loops they used before tossing them in the garbage and be more careful about discarding circular fishing gear that could snag or choke a sea lion.
(via Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/shocking-video-shows-effects-marine-debris-sea-lions-alaska-report-article-1.1022475#ixzz1mPDcLOT5
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