BY FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ
According to filmmaker Eréndira Valle and Doctor Daniela Bárcena, the Southern Baja California Sea lion population has fallen by 65% during the last 35 years in the Gulf of California Region. Eréndira Valle and Dr. Daniela are the lead members and spokeswoman of the “Sea Lion Rescue” non-profit organization. While discussing this alarming dilemma, Dr. Bárcena said that the only protected sea lion area is around the La Paz Island Espíritu Santo; where the once skyrocketing number has stabilized and the current sea lion population continues on the rise, per the monitoring results that were carried out of sea lions activity and longevity in La Paz and Los Cabos.
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They explained that the reduction in the populations of these mammals over a three decades course has been due to many factors, which have included their getting caught in an entanglement of “ghost” nets and garbage that litters the Sea of Cortez. They also mentioned that their sea lion rescue project in the Gulf of California was born 10 years ago because of the dire need to support authorities such as CONAMP, Profepa, Semarnat and Semar in the unraveling of this type of mammals from nets, which requires a methodology and specialized personnel.
They said that untangling efforts can be easy or complex; depending on the net or whatever object the sea lion finds itself entangled or stuck in, and/or whether or not it has a cut in the skin and/or muscle, and how serious and deep the wound is. Saving these gentle populace from the sea can get very complicated, in trying to prepare them for the shot of the anesthesia that the animal receives at the time it can be freed and removed from objects that injure their bodies.
“The entanglements the sea lions and other mammals of the sea can occur anywhere where there are fisheries,” said Eréndira, while also clarifying that their work is non-profit and is regulated by Official Mexican Standard 059 Laws.
The two very hard-working women have carried out their mammal-tarian, selfless work, caring for the seals and sea lions, at La Isla Espíritu Santo Island, San Rafaelito, San Jorge and Puerto Peñasco in the Gulf of California, for which they applied a methodology and mammal-saving efforts that have been developed over two decades. “As part of the methodology we carry our monitoring, photo-identification of assisted animals, and a classification of each contact we make.,” said Dr. Daniela They did point out that the entanglement rate is higher than previously thought, which is why they have counted between 40 and 50 entangled seals on San Jorge Island, where industrial and artisanal fishing is practiced and there are many ghost nets about.
They further explained that one of the problems is that when industrial fishing sweeps the bottom of the sea with its nets, it removes other nets and all kinds of garbage, which it throws back into the sea, leaving it adrift or in sea lion colonies, where objects can get tangled, wedged or stuck in the mammals’ bodies.
Seals and sea lions, along with walruses, belong to a group of marine mammals called “pinnipeds.” Pinniped means fin or flipper-footed in Latin. These animals spend the majority of their time in the ocean, but come on shore for long periods of time. Although seals and sea lions have similarities, they also have several distinct characteristics and adaptations that distinguish and separate them from one another.
The key difference between seals and sea lions is that seals are known as “earless” seals or simply “seals.” They belong to a group of pinnipeds that have ear holes, but lack an external ear flap. This includes species such as the harbor seal, endangered Hawaiian monk seal, and harp seal. The seals also typically have a smaller body size compared to sea lions.
When they are on land, seals use their bellies to move around because they have small front flippers that are thinly webbed with a claw on each small toe. In the water, seals swim easily, moving their rear flippers back and forth, similar to how a fish uses its caudal fin (tail) to propel itself through the water. Seals tend to be quiet, and vocalize through noises such as soft grunts, growls, or hisses. Many are less social than sea lion species, especially in the water, but seals can be found on land together to avoid predators, rest, mate, and nurse their pups.
The first untangling of sea lions in the Gulf of California was carried out on December 10, 2015, with a female they called Calafia; Since then to date, 61 sea lions have been rescued. Reiterating the untangling process takes time not only because the task itself requires skill and care, but also going through a series of procedures with Mexico’s environmental authorities because it is a species protected by the NOM059.
The NOM059 is the Official Mexican Standard to identify the species or populations of wild flora and fauna at risk in the Mexican Republic that establishes the criteria for inclusion, exclusion or change of risk category for the species on a national list. Through a method of evaluating their risk of extinction throughout the National Territory, for natural or legal persons who promote the inclusion, exclusion or change of wild species or populations in any of the categories of risk, established by this Standard.
The two lady activists expressed that they live on their own financing and tax-deductible donations, specifying that it is an expensive task for a team made up of seven people. Sea lions are the species that have great biological and ecological importance, they are the sentinel species of the sea, if the sea lions are healthy, so are the ecosystems, where they exist.
“If a fisherman sees a mammal trapped in a net, they should call Profepa or Conanp to remove the nets, which is why we urge the new governments to improve the law because marine biodiversity is being diminished,” they warned.
Also pointing out that public policies must be improved because, despite the damage caused by drifting nets, it is prohibited for them to collect them because they are a private asset.
“If a fisherman sees a wolf trapped in a net, he should call Profepa or Conanp to remove the nets, which is why we urge the new governments to improve the law because marine biodiversity is being diminished,” they added.
“The trapped Seals/Sea Lions/mammals are only the tip of the iceberg, of the entire problem of the ocean; The sea is a cemetery of ghost nets that kill mammals, birds, sharks, and manta rays.”
Eréndira Valle earned her bachelor’s degree at the University Center for Cinematographic Studies (CUEC) at UNAM in Mexico City. Since then, she has specialized in marine conservation, directing documentaries and television series, where she has obtained different national and international awards. Eréndira also earned a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and Humanities and has published books together with other renowned researchers on the topic of sustainability.
