COMPLICATED SCENARIO FOR REMOVING DEAD SEA LION
On Sunday Seal Sitters responded to a report of a dead carcass floating in Cove 2, near the Water Taxi landing. It was a very sad looking, decomposed adult California sea lion.

The animal has rope looped around the rear end and the chest. There is no apparent sign of foul play. It appears that the sea lion died elsewhere and someone towed or unsuccessfully attempted to sink the large body.

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed new regulations regarding the towing/sinking of marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Stranding Network is required to get a special permit to sink a dead marine mammal within 3 miles of land. Burial in the small cove is not an option for a number of reasons.

Seal Sitters completed the application for the emergency permit this afternoon. That permit usually takes 2-4 weeks to be granted.

In the interim, NOAA's general hotline as well as Seal Sitters' is receiving lots of inquiries about the animal. There were erroneous reports that it was a dead orca calf, which sparked widespread concerns. Another person thought it was a Halloween prank.

In hopes that we can answer people's questions and alleviate fears, we posted an informational sign at the cove, identifying the species and explaining the requirements that delay in removal. This way, the public has the necessary information and realize that the Stranding Network is making every effort to resolve the situation.

UPDATE
A current has gripped the pungent sea lion carcass, which had been trapped close to the water taxi pier for the past two days, and it is slowly drifting out into Elliott Bay. Hopefully, it will sink to the floor of Elliott Bay and feed the ecosystem.