A Stellar Sea Lion suffering a deep wound in her neck from a nylon rope was rescued on Vancouver Island over the weekend.
Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal rescue team, supported by Department of Fisheries, was called to Fanny Bay between Qualicum Beach and Courtenay to dart and immobilize a female sea lion. The braided plastic was then cut from her neck. Sadly a second, younger sea lion entangled in a plastic strap bolted from rescuers.
Dr. Martin Haulena, the aquarium's head veterinarian, says the deep wound was causing severe suffering and she would have died a slow, painful death had the rope not been removed.
Stellar sea lions are considered the "king" of sea lions - the biggest of all sea lions. They are a species of special concern in Canada, and some populations are endangered in parts of Alaska.
Haulena says the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans is becoming a crisis, impacting marine mammals, as well as fish and smaller creatures living on the ocean bottom.
The rope will be analyzed to determine exactly what kind of plastic it's made from. The team hopes to start identifying sources of marine debris impacting aquatic animals and to encourage the public, industry and government to reduce their use of plastics.
Last week, Ocean Wise kicked off its #BePlasticWise pledge campaign, which aims to raise awareness about ocean plastic and encourage action by asking people to reduce their plastic waste from single-use items and other sources.
#BePlasticWise pledge participants will receive monthly lifestyle challenges to help them reduce single use plastic over the course of a year. It started this month with "Coffee Break" to reduce use of takeout plastic-lined cups and lids. If you'd like to participate take the pledge at ocean.org/pledge.