Environmental Issues / Problems photos

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37837  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37838  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37839  

A California brown pelican entangled in a plastic bag which is wrapped around its neck. This unfortunate pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck. Plastic bags kill and injure untold numbers of marine animals each year.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 22571  

Pacific harbor seal, juvenile, with research identification tag on hind flipper. Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18263  

Pacific harbor seal, juvenile, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18264  

Pacific harbor seal, juvenile, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18265  

Pacific harbor seal, juvenile, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18266  

Pacific harbor seal, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18267  

Pacific harbor seal, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18268  

Pacific harbor seal, open mouth, yawning, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18269  

Pacific harbor seal, juvenile, rudely sticks out tongue at photographer, Childrens Pool.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 18270  

California sea lion, with monofiliment cut.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 03087  

North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge. This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced the calf she was observed nurturing. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05910  

Gray whale carcass at oceans edge.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 01168  

West Indian manatee with scarring/wound from boat propellor.
Species: West indian manatee, Trichechus manatus
Location: Homosassa River, Florida
Image ID: 03306  

West Indian manatee with scarring/wound from boat propellor.
Species: West indian manatee, Trichechus manatus
Location: Homosassa River, Florida
Image ID: 03307  

West Indian manatee with scarring/wound from boat propellor.
Species: West indian manatee, Trichechus manatus
Location: Homosassa River, Florida
Image ID: 03308  

Gray whale carcass at oceans edge.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 06422  

Gray whale carcass at oceans edge.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Del Mar, California
Image ID: 06423  

Gray whale carcass, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 06424  

Gray whale dorsal aspect showing injury/wound/indentation likely caused by boat, Laguna San Ignacio.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 06426  

West Indian manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Florida.
Species: West indian manatee, Trichechus manatus
Location: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida
Image ID: 02651  

Silky shark trailing longline and hook.
Species: Silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis
Location: Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Image ID: 05010  

Illegal fishing at Roca Partida, Revillagigedos.
Image ID: 05623  

Illegal fishing at Roca Partida, Revillagigedos.
Image ID: 05624  

Illegal fishing at Roca Partida, Revillagigedos.
Image ID: 05625  

Illegal fishing at Roca Partida, Revillagigedos.
Image ID: 05626  

Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside UH research boat, UH research diver visible.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05977  

A La Jolla Friends of the Seals volunteer encourages visitors to stay away from the harbor seals at Childrens Pool in La Jolla, California while videotaping those who approach the seals. The La Jolla colony of harbor seals, which has formed a breeding colony at a small but popular beach near San Diego, is at the center of considerable controversy. While harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach.
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 12708