Officials with the Port of Astoria on the North Oregon Coast continue to wrestle with a Sea Lion population problem. The large Pennipeds, as they do at most ports along the Oregon Coast, take over Port docks, damaging them. Tourist love to look at the Sea Lions and watch them nap, but their presence on the docks causes thousands of dollars of damages. More than 2,300 Sea Lions were counted in one day last March on the Port’s East End Mooring Basin dock. Fire crackers, gun shots, inflatables and even a fake Orca pulled through the waters by a boat failed to discourage the large mammals from their chosen resting place. Now, the Port is working with a welding instructor at nearby Knappa High School to manufacture about two-miles or railing that will be attached to the docks about 18” to 24” above the surface. A cable will be added to keep the Sea Lions from squeezing under the railing. The pipe barriers have been effective and widely used at other ports. The Port of Astoria will spend about $13,000 on materials and make a $2,000 donation to the school donated by two of their tenants. Sea Lions are a protected species under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
