FY 2000 Funded Projects

This project addresses the decline in the western stock of the Steller sea lion population. Steller sea lions are listed as endangered because the western stock has continuously declined in the last three decades. Causes are not well understood but nutritional stress leading to excessive juvenile mortality is suspected as a major factor. This project will develop a method of capturing juvenile Steller sea lions in the north Gulf of Alaska. The juveniles will be held at the Alaska Sea Life Center for periods of one to six weeks while research is conducted. After the research is completed, the animals will be released in the same vicinity they were captured. During the period of capture, several separate studies will be conducted on these "transient juveniles", including a collaborative effort with ASLC. Individual projects, such as testing of satellite-linked mortality transmitter (SMX) implants and assessment of the impact of experimental modifications in foraging costs on selected dive behavior parameters, are amongst those that will be funded separately, but will use the juveniles that are captured and held under this project. A project of this magnitude is extremely expensive and requires the expertise and facilities that are rarely found in one location. Thus, the project encourages interagency effort to understand the decline in the western Steller sea lion stock.