More than 20 sea lions that are endangered have been killed at the Copper River Delta this summer Many of them were shot by gunshots. It is reported that the National Marine Fisheries Service has in the past increased its reward for information about the illegal killings, which is now set at $25,000.
Sadie Wright, a biologist at the agency, explained that the deceased animals were discovered in surveys of the region to the east Cordova. In this year’s survey, she said that it’s an unusually high number.
“We’ve been doing this for several seasons,” Wright said. “And this year, we’ve noticed an enormous increase with regards to the numbers of sea lions dead on the islands.”
On June 2 the team had found seven sea lions dead within the region. In the past few days, at the very least 15 more were identified. Wright claimed that by this time earlier in the year, they’d discovered at least the same number of cases.
Sea lions of Steller are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The killing of them is a crime -the only exception is hunts for subsistence by Alaska Native people. Wright claimed that the animals that were found on the Copper River Delta didn’t appear to have been hunted for food or to make crafts.
This isn’t the only time sea lions have been killed within the region. Wright stated in 2015 that fishermen were caught shooting sea lions in a way they thought were threats to their livelihoods. Wright said it’s not clear the reason behind this year’s increase.
“In this instance I’m not sure what to say,” she said. “We’re not certain why people are able to harm, hurt and kill sea lions living in the region.”
The sea lion population that is in danger is currently facing threats like the heat wave that is sweeping across the ocean, and Wright claimed that the killings are hurting the chance of recovery.
“A majority of the animals we’re seeing in the wild that are dead are young animals at their best years,” she said. “So it’s tragic to see them die even though there’s not any good reason for it.”
Wright advised that people could report harassment or injury to marine mammal species by marine mammals to NOAA law enforcement by calling 1-800-853-1964.
