Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MCB Camp Pendleton, California
may be present. In addition, the vertebral scutes also show frequent division, as do the
scales on the dorsal surface of the head. The prefrontal scales, however, typically number
two pairs. Reports suggest that the olive ridley's diet includes crabs, shrimp, rock lobsters,
jellyfish, and tunicates. In some parts of the world, algae has been reported as its principal
food. Olive ridleys are highly migratory, and largely pelagic. They do not nest on U.S.
beaches and many environmental factors affecting them occur outside of U.S. jurisdiction
(NMFS 2007b).
The white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) was listed as federally endangered on 16 November
2005 from Point Conception, California to Punta Abreojos, Mexico. Abalones are marine
gastropods belonging to the family Haliotidae and genus Haliotis, and are characterized by
a flattened spiral shell. Abalone have separate sexes and are broadcast spawners, releasing
millions of eggs or sperm during a spawning event. Fertilized eggs hatch and develop into
free-swimming larvae, spending from 5 to 14 days as non-feeding zooplankton before
development (i.e. metamorphosis) into the adult form. After metamorphosis, they settle
onto hard substrates in intertidal and subtidal areas. Abalone grow slowly and have
relatively long lifespans of 30 years or more. White abalone are typically found at subtidal
depths of 20-60 m (66-197 ft) and were historically most “abundant” at depths of 25-30 m
(80-100 ft). The results of a series of fishery-independent abalone surveys conducted in the
early 1980s and 1990s indicated that white abalone density may have declined by several
orders of magnitude in California since 1970. Over the last 30 years, white abalone
abundance has declined from approximately 2.22 to 4.24 million animals (pre-exploitation)
to approximately 1,613 to 2,540 animals throughout the species' range. This decline
represents a decrease in white abalone abundance of over 99 percent since exploitation
began in the late 1960s; review of the commercial landings data affirms the significant
decline in white abalone abundance, from a peak of 144,000 lbs (65,318 kg) in 1972 to less
than 1,000 lbs (454 kg) in 1979, after only a decade of commercial exploitation (NOAA
2001). Management of this species is under the jurisdictional responsibility of the NMFS.
Six federally endangered whale species potentially occur in the oceanic waters off the coast
of Camp Pendleton: Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Blue whale (Balaenoptera
musculus), Finback whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Humpback whale (Megaptera
novaeangliae), Killer whale (Orcinus orca), and Sperm whale (Physeter catodon);
however, their frequency and abundance are unknown without further study, but likely only
migrate seasonally offshore between primary mating, feeding, and wintering locations
(USFWS 2009f). Management of these species is under the jurisdictional responsibility of
the NMFS.
Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) are members of the "eared seal" family
Otariidae, and were listed as a federally Threatened species throughout their range on 16
December 1985. They are also protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, as amended, and are managed by the NMFS. Guadalupe fur seals are sexually
"dimorphic" with males reaching average lengths of about 7 ft (2 m) and weighing about
400 lbs (180 kg) while females average lengths and weights are much smaller at about 5 ft
(1.5 m) and 110 lbs (50 kg). They have a narrow flat-head with a pointed, long and narrow
snout. Their foreflippers are broad, with some hair, reaching slightly past their wrist. Their
coloration is dark brown to black with adult males having tan or yellow hairs on the back
3-30 Chapter 3 – Natural Resources