Steller Sea Lions and the World Around Them
By Dayton "Lee" Alverson, Ph.D.
ABSTRACT
The Steller Sea Lion (SSL) has declined in abundance throughout much of its habitat in North Pacific, in particular, off most of Alaska. The decline is well documented and accepted as fact among most scientists who have evaluated the data available for the region. The sudden collapse of the SSL, during the late 1970s was followed by significant growth in the commercial fisheries in the region coupled with a marked climatic regime shift. Again, most scientists have accepted that both of these events have impacted the abundance of key prey species. Further, most scientists studying the population dynamics of the SSL, fish population and fisheries of the region have acknowledged poor nutrition as being a major or one of the major factors impacting the SSL population decline. Scientists, however differ on the character and nature of the impacts that may be attributed to abiotic natural changes, fisheries and or to both of these factors. The weight that each of these factors may have played in the SSL decline forms the basis of a major scientific schism which has persisted over the past decade. What scientific question must be addressed to unravel this dispute?
 View Endangered Species: Steller Sea Lions and Alaska Pollock; Sea Turtles of Mexico Session
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