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Sea lion tangled in rope on Vancouver Island

Marine debris is a 91Ƶsignificant problem91Ƶ for marine wildlife
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Sea lions in Cowichan Bay. (Cheryl Trudell photo)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has received a report from a member of the public urging them to attend to a sea lion that looks like it91Ƶs been caught up in some type of rope.

The animal was seen on Friday by a crabber.

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On Monday a DFO crew was in Cowichan Bay to investigate.

91ƵWe will continue to monitor the animal to determine if it91Ƶs body condition is deteriorating,91Ƶ said DFO spokesperson Lara Sloan.

91ƵDFO is a coordinating member of the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network,91Ƶ Sloan explained. 91ƵAny action in response to a marine mammal in distress is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.91Ƶ

Sloan said marine debris is a 91Ƶsignificant problem91Ƶ for marine wildlife. 91ƵThe public can help by cutting packing material, banding, rope and other looped material prior to disposing of it to help prevent marine mammal entanglements,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵThese materials should not be disposed of in the marine environment.91Ƶ

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The Vancouver Aquarium91Ƶs Marine Mammal Rescue manager Lindsaye Akhurst said her group has fielded a lot of calls about the sea lion.

91ƵWe are assembling a team and working with DFO to come over sometime in the next few days,91Ƶ Akhurst said.

DFO encourages people to report all marine mammals in distress to 1-800-465-4336.



sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

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Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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