Steller sea lion

Scientific name: Eumetopias jubatus

Found in the Bering Sea and the Northern Pacific Ocean, the steller sea lion is a subspecies of sea lion threatened primarily by human activity. Although it is unclear exactly what led to their decline, intentional culling by fishermen to remove these sea lions as competition for fish was likely a leading cause. Unintentional capture by fisheries and loss of food sources also played a role.

The discontinuation of intentional culling has helped steller sea lion populations recover. Populations have continued to grow after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established a recovery plan in 1992 (revised in 2008). Efforts to protect habitats and reduce human-sea lion conflict by designating no-go zones for fishing have also helped. Steller sea lions are now classified as near threatened by the IUCN but are still considered threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.