SEALS Program
The SEALS program was established to document and reduce the impact of human activity on harbor seals in Bolinas Lagoon and Tomales Bay.
The qualities that make Bolinas Lagoon and
Tomales Bay so beneficial to the seals are also attractions for humans.
Clean water, natural surroundings, and an abundance of wildlife attract
thousands of visitors. The proximity and curiosity of visiting people
can alarm the seal colony. If the seals are flushed into the water,
their important resting time is disrupted. Pups can become separated
from their mothers. Eventually, chronic disturbance may result in a
reduced birth rate and even abandonment of the haul-out sites altogether.
Goals
- Minimizing disturbance to harbor seals and help maintain the integrity of rookery sites in the Sanctuary
- Preserving harbor seal colony size in the Sanctuary
- Educating the general public about harbor seals and their habitat in the Sanctuary
- Increasing stewardship in the Sanctuary
A Celebration of our Success!
Due to the success of minimizing harbor seal disturbance, the
SEALS program is changing from a monitoring program to a naturalist
program with a focus on interpretive enforcement. Through volunteer
effort and dedication, the SEALS program has successfully accomplished
its goals. Currently, we are monitoring at Bolinas Lagoon and next
projected training is 2006 volunteer opportunities in this evolving
program. Your support is still needed!
Please check out current volunteer opportunities.
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All the fin-footed mammals of the sea, known as Pinnipeds, are
protected by law in U.S. waters to help them recover from
over-exploitation in the past. The Gulf of the Farallones National
Marine Sanctuary provides a home to California Sea Lions, small
breeding rookeries for Northern Fur Seals and Steller's Sea Lions,
and about 20% of California's Harbor Seal population....
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