Steller Sea Lion Spotted in the East Sea | |||||
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Author | administrator | Date | 2010-07-07 | Read | 1,958 |
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East Sea Fisheries Research Institute of NFRDI reported June 21, 2010 that
researchers conducting fisheries
survey on the coast of Uljin, a city on Korea’s East coast spotted a small
female Steller sea lion (Eumetopias
jubatus) near the port of Hupo. ·
Eumetopias jubatus (Order:
Carnivora, Family: Otariidae) features the biggest size among the species in
the Order of Carnivora. A male grows as long as 3.3m and as heavy as 1 ton
while a female 2.5m and 273 kg. The animal wears bright brown and turns dark
brown when wet. ·
It is known that
Steller sea lion is distributed throughout the world ranging from north Japan
to mid California and spawns around islets in northern Pacific in May through
July and after spawning the juveniles migrate away. ·
According to the
sight survey, the spotted sea lion is estimated to be a 1.5 m female. It is
very rare that this species appears on the East coast though there was a case
that a few sea lions were spotted near the islands of Dokdo and Ulneung in the
East Sea last February and May. ·
NFRDI judged
that the occurrence of Steller sea lion in the East coast might signal that the
East coast provides favorable environmental conditions and food to marine
mammals like fur seals and Steller sea lion as well as whales. ·
In addition, the
institute and other related organizations made joint efforts to raise awareness
among fisheries of the importance of Steller sea lion and made an advice to
fishers not to do any harm on this rare species while fishing activity. ·
Steller sea lion
is listed under the group of orange grade among the endangered species registered
by the Ministry of Environment, Rep. of Korea. An illegal catch of the species will
be punished upon. |
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