Pinnipeds

In central California there are six pinniped species. The species that have been documented breeding in the San Francisco Bay Area Network include the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) and northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Pinnipeds are good indicators of the condition of the marine ecosystem and global climate change because they respond quickly to oceanic conditions, such as El Nino events, and food resources. Their abundance and distribution have the potential to be affected by changes in food supply, disease, disturbance to haul-out sites by recreational or commercial users, or environmental factors (localized storm events, sea level rise, and decadal shifts in climate). Pinnipeds come under the legal mandates of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. There is a long history of monitoring pinnipeds at PORE and GOGA in collaboration with other agencies and organizations. Identifying natural and anthropogenic threats and quantifying the level of disturbance to harbor seals will also be critical in order to effectively manage and protect pinnipeds.