28.05.2014 Views

appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

10.0 Marine Mammals<br />

10.0 MARINE MAMMALS<br />

10.1 INTRODUCTION<br />

All marine mammals are protected under<br />

the Marine Mammal Protection Act<br />

(MMPA) <strong>of</strong> 1972, <strong>and</strong> some are also<br />

protected by the Endangered Species Act<br />

(ESA) <strong>of</strong> 1973. Marine mammals that are<br />

known to occur occasionally in waters <strong>of</strong><br />

the Ports include pinnipeds (California sea<br />

lion, Zalophus californianus, <strong>and</strong> harbor<br />

seal, Phoca vitulina) <strong>and</strong> cetaceans<br />

(present study, MEC 2002, USACE <strong>and</strong><br />

LAHD 1992). Cetaceans that have been<br />

observed in outer harbor locations in the<br />

Ports include the gray whale (Eshrichtius<br />

robustus), Pacific bottlenose dolphin<br />

(Tursiops truncatus), common dolphin<br />

(Delphinus delphis), <strong>and</strong> Pacific whitesided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) (USACE <strong>and</strong><br />

LAHD 1992). None <strong>of</strong> these species breed in the Ports.<br />

10.2 METHODOLOGY<br />

For the present (<strong>2008</strong>) <strong>surveys</strong>, observations <strong>of</strong> marine mammals were primarily made during<br />

bird <strong>surveys</strong>. However, marine mammal observations were also recorded on daily log sheets<br />

during all other survey tasks, including benthic <strong>and</strong> fish sampling efforts. Observations included<br />

species, number <strong>of</strong> individuals, location (or survey zone), <strong>and</strong> other relevant information (e.g.,<br />

activity, habitat use, <strong>and</strong> gender as feasible to determine).<br />

10.3 SPECIES COMPOSITION<br />

In <strong>2008</strong>, California sea lions were the most commonly documented marine mammal species in<br />

the Ports <strong>and</strong> were generally observed on buoys <strong>and</strong> swimming throughout harbor waters<br />

(Table 10-1). California sea lions were observed more frequently in outer as compared to inner<br />

harbor stations. Harbor seals were observed in low numbers throughout the Ports, but occurred<br />

most frequently at outer harbor stations. A complete list <strong>of</strong> marine mammal species <strong>and</strong> their<br />

relative abundance is presented in Appendix I.<br />

California sea lions have a broad distribution from British Columbia south to Tres Marias Isl<strong>and</strong>s<br />

<strong>of</strong>f Mexico (Hanan <strong>and</strong> Sisson 1992). This species breeds in June <strong>and</strong> early July from the<br />

Channel Isl<strong>and</strong>s south into Mexico. California sea lions feed on a variety <strong>of</strong> prey, including<br />

squid, octopus, <strong>and</strong> fish (anchovy, mackerel, herring, rockfish, hake, <strong>and</strong> salmon), <strong>and</strong> can<br />

occur throughout the Ports, swimming <strong>and</strong> feeding.<br />

Harbor seals range from Alaska to Cedros Isl<strong>and</strong>, Baja California (Hanan <strong>and</strong> Sisson 1992).<br />

These seals have been divided into three stocks, including a California group. Harbor seals are<br />

abundant a<strong>long</strong> the entire California coast, typically occupying bays (including, harbors, <strong>and</strong><br />

river mouths where they prey on epibenthic <strong>and</strong> benthic species (Ainley <strong>and</strong> Allen 1992).<br />

A variety <strong>of</strong> marine mammals use the nearshore waters outside the breakwaters. These include<br />

gray whales that spend summers in the Bering <strong>and</strong> Chukchi seas <strong>of</strong>f Alaska, <strong>and</strong> migrate to<br />

feeding grounds in winter a<strong>long</strong> the west coast <strong>of</strong> Baja California, Mexico (Lagomarsino 1992).<br />

<strong>2008</strong> Biological Surveys <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Harbors 10–1<br />

April 2010

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!