Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 14

Technical Summary

Eumetopias jubatus

Steller sea lion

Otarie de Steller

Range of Occurrence in Canada: British Columbia, Pacific Ocean


Extent and Area Information

Extent of occurrence (EO) (km2) >10 000 km2
Specify trend in EO Stable
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO? No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km2) <10 km2 (breeding sites)
Specify trend in AO Stable
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO? No
Number of known or inferred current locations 3 main breeding areas (several rookeries at each)
Specify trend in # Stable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations? No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat Stable


Population Information

Generation time (average age of parents in the population) 10 y (females)
Number of mature individuals 40% of indigenous  population (~7600)
Total population trend +3.2% per year (1971-2002)
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations  
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals? No
Is the total population severely fragmented? No
Specify trend in number of populations  
Are there extreme fluctuations in number  of populations?  
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:  


Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats) add rows as needed

Shooting (illegal and licensed predator control), incidental take in fishing gear, entanglement in debris, catastrophic accidents, environmental contaminants, displacement or degradation of their habitat, fluctuating prey populations, predation by killer whales, and disease


Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source): Low

Status of outside population(s)?
California, Oregon, Alaska and Russia
Endangered/Threatened
Is immigration known or possible? Yes
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada? Yes
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada? Probably
Is rescue from outside populations likely? Low likelihood


Quantitative Analysis

 


Status and Reasons for Designation

Status:
Special Concern
Alpha-numeric code:
Met criteria for Threatened, D2, but was designated Special Concern because the population is increasing and there is a possible rescue effect.
Reasons for Designation:
There are only three breeding locations in British Columbia. Although the population is increasing, they are sensitive to human disturbance while on land. Threats include the possibility of acute oil spills. There are unexplained declines in other populations to the north and west of British Columbia.


Applicability of Criteria

Criterion A (Declining Total Population):
Criteria not met. Population has increased since 1970.
Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation):
There is no evidence of decline or fluctuations.
Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline):
Criteria not met. The population is increasing.
Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution):
Criteria D1 not met; number of mature individuals > 1000. Criteria D2 Threatened is met; there are only 3 locations in Canada. Additional locations are in SE Alaska, Oregon, and California.
Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis):
Not available.

 

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