Hi everyone,

Just posted a write-up about a recent trip to Western Australia to photograph Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea). It was my second time there. Perth is lovely; the sea lions are irresistibly cute; and I was there during Chinese New Year, so I pigged out on awesome Chinese food.

http://www.tonywublog.com/20080311/sea-lion-sequel.html

Cheers,

Tony

Hey Tony
Great report.

CALM are now called DEC (Department of Environment & Conservation)
Tony I hear ya....It's abit like that here with the Whale Sharks.
If you are an operator you are bound to all the rules but go out in your own boat and you can do things like troll straight through the groups of snorkelers, or burley up the water right beside the snorkelers and refuse to get out of an operators way because you are fishing no problems.

You should go to Monkey Mia as well which is abit more up the road. That place is a laugh an look out if you look like a pro camerman.

Adorable. I don't think you can ever seen enough pix of sealions!

More! More!

Alex

Ok Alex... you can go to Carnac too.
Actually Tony... I am taking you to task about the claim of good chinese food in Perth... which restaurant and where? All I found was gringo chinese... which is blah!

Billy Lee's, direct from Hong Kong. Awesome.

http://www.tonywublog.com/20070124/billy-lees-in-perth.html

Seriously, many of the other places are awful, just like you say. Friends took me to 3 other restaurants, which sucked. If you make it over there again, definitely hit Billy Lee's. Better yet, let's hook up there some time, like next year around this time.

Wagsy — Yeah, but DEC just doesn't have the same ring as CALM does. Everyone there still refers to them as CALM too. DEC, CALM...either way, none too impressive as far as I can see. If they behave similarly in other parts of WA, it must be a systemic problem, not just unique to Carnac. Seems almost like they might be hamstrung by political constraints, like not being in a position to piss off boaters, however unreasonably they might be behaving.

Alex — The sea lions are absolutely adorable. I can't fathom why more people don't photograph sea lions.

Ok Tony, I actually remember that place since it was open til 5am or so. It's ok but not better than any of the plethora of Chinesecali restos in LA or even SF. I'll put it down to differing tastes.

Sea Lions and seals are the most graceful hunters in a baitball... I don't remember Carnac being very baity though.

Fantastic trip report and photographs Tony. I really love your comparison shots of dog and sea lion behaviour. I have a few of those at home - retrievers that is.

Tony,

I loved the pics and the piece!!!! Especially the "comparison" shots between land (represented rightfully so by your retriever) and sea (your endearing sea lion captures).....

Actually we could add some manatee shots into that "comparison" and have a real "expression-fest amongst species" party.....

Tony, I hear you on the illogical and unfair way the sea lion situation is managed there. Very similar things are going on at Crystal River, Florida re: manatees and with all the "uproar" you would think things would be getting better and people certainly would be acting more civil and working together - but actually the opposite is occurring all too often. And people are just asking for super-strict regulations in the near future and they are going to get them.

Still the manatees are being well looked after and their survival rate for that sector of the population is at or near the highest in Florida! I wonder if the sea lions in that area have been studied to see how the current conservation measures are working as far as their survival statistics? Are they surviving better in the water or on land, etc? That is what should determine the fair course of action.

Tony I subscribe to the principal that often - before a better solution is implemented - there is a lot of "confusion" and "noise" that surfaces. But the answer is to persist with constructive action and commentary (like yours) and eventually (hopefully soon) a better situation will coalesce for the sea lions, manatees and many, many of our beloved underwater creatures.

Thanks a lot, as I've said before I always love your writing!! Carol

Drew: No baitfish per se, at least not in the shallows. They're at Carnac to rest and play more than to feed.

Loftus: If you have retrievers, then I'm sure you can relate. The sea lions behave very similarly in the water. It's really quite amazing.

Carol: Just saw your baby manatee photo. Totally awesome! I hope that the bureaucratic situation over there is better than at Carnac. Somehow though, bureaucracy worldwide tends to converge to similar levels of nonsense. Unfortunately, there's not much known about the sea lions, except for the general consensus that their population has been steady or declining for a long time. No one is really studying them as far as I can tell, except to the extent that fishing industry studies have been undertaken on whether sea lions steal fish and other catch or not. I'm sure the authorities will read my blog post again. Let's hope something good comes of it.

Tony,

Thanks for the wonderful story and images of these fantastic seals.

As an Australian it is embarressing to see that there are still 'yobbos' (Aussie for blockheads) that have no respect or regard for wildlife and their protected areas. How difficult is it to observe the seals from a boat or better still from the water. There are plenty of beaches around Perth where these idiots could go without crowding out the seals on their haul out beach.

I only wish DEC/CALM would grow a backbone and enforce the laws that are designed to protect these and other marine animals.

Regards

Nigel Marsh