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Seal Overpopulation, How Bad Is It?

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Have you been at the beach lately  and seen an abandoned seal? Many people have, and they’re concerned about the frequency with which seals are seen. Many people are moved by what they see.

English teacher Jeremy  Zauderer says,  “I go running in the morning and sometimes I see them. This is the most  I have ever seen.  I call the lifeguards when I see one and then Seaworld comes and gets them. Apparently they have hundreds of them. I feel compelled to call because I like to help out a fellow mammal.”

However, not everyone believes humans should be helping the seals. Critics are concerned that treating the seals humanely is actually making the overpopulation problem worse. Many  surfers, spearfisherman, fisherman and divers say  you should not call Seaworld to save the seals. They say the pups should be allowed to die.  Many see the seals as a nusiance.

Environmentalists  are concerned that Seaworld will put them back in the ocean are they will still die.

So what is the cause of the problem?

Science teacher John Fearnow says, ”The reasons why the seals are dying is from overfishing, overfishing has an impact on seals.” He continues, “We don’t have as many fish as we used to.  I remember seeing–pictures of huge black sea bass that are like 23 pounds and lobster about 3 feet long.”

 

Math teacher Danielle Wasson adds,  “Because of overfishing and the huge seal population, there is not enough fish to support the malnourished baby seals and the mothers leave them on the beach or rocks to die.”

Others are concerned that treating the seals “humanely” is a actually making the problem of seal overpopulation worse. Critics of the seals point to the La Jolla Cove as an example of environmentalists’ good intentions, gone awry. They are angry that environmentalists have pushed to get a law passed that humans can’t go within 100 ft of the seals.  This is a problem, they say, because now humans cannot access a favorite because it has become a seal breeding ground.

         “Seal haters”  would prefer to let people on the beach to scare off the breeding seals. The seals are actually scared of humans, but they are getting used to people.

Another beach lifeguard recommended euthanizing them because the overpopulation problem of seals is so bad.

                  One of the theories is that California right now has a small fish population. fluctuation in populations are normal. Populations  naturally go up and down. What seems  abnormal is the seals. Apparently at this time there is not enough food for the seals. One theory for the seal pups deaths in that their moms have to go far out in the ocean to try to and get some fish and then pups get washed in.


Science teacher Christie Maynard says, “I hope they find out what is causing the problem of overpopulation of seals. Sea World has been helping out by rescuing malnourished seals and getting them back to health; however, until the marine ecosystem returns to being balanced, the problem will continue.”


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