As well intentioned as it may seem, feeding a wild animal, such as a sea lion, will do more harm to it than good, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
A local sea lion has made a splash, so to speak, with locals at Fisherman’s Wharf in Steveston but some videos on YouTube show the animal being fed fish from people on the dock.
Lara Sloan, a spokesperson for DFO, says feeding a sea lion can cause it to lose its natural wariness of humans or boats, as well as condition it to associate humans with food.
“These changed behaviors may be passed on to their young and other members of their social groups and increases their risk of injury from boats, entanglement in fishing gear, and intentional harm by people frustrated with the behavioral changes,” noted Sloan via email.
The sea lion frequenting Steveston’s docks appears to be a juvenile or female, as it’s relatively small in size.
Sloan said a sea lion might unintentionally bite or otherwise harm a human if being provoked by food.
She noted under the Marine Mammal Regulations, it is an offence to disturb a marine mammal.
She said the federal government is presently updating the regulations to include feeding food as a “disturbance.”
DFO expects such amendments to be complete by the end of the year, Sloan noted. Presently there are no signs posted by DFO to address such an issue at the dock.
