NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-183
 

Aerial, Ship and Land-Based Surveys of 

Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in 

Alaska, June and July 2005 - 2007 

by 

L. Fritz, M. Lynn, E. Kunisch, and K. Sweeney 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 

National Marine Fisheries Service
 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center
 

March 2008 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS 

The National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center uses 

the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and 

technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing 

are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound 

professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical 

literature. 

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries 

Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the 

Northwest Fisheries Center. The NMFS-NWFSC series is currently used by 

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. 

This document should be cited as follows: 

Fritz, L., M. Lynn, E. Kunisch, and K. Sweeney . 2008. Aerial, ship, and 

land-based surveys of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska, 

June and July 2005-2007. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. 

NMFS-AFSC-183, 70 p. 

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by 

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-183
 

Aerial, Ship and Land-Based Surveys of
 

Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in
 

Alaska, June and July 2005 - 2007
 

by 

L. Fritz1, M. Lynn2, E. Kunisch1, and K. Sweeney1

1

 Alaska Fisheries Science Center
 

National Marine Mammal Laboratory
 

National Marine Fisheries Service
 

7600 Sand Point Way NE
 

Seattle WA 98115
 

www.afsc.noaa.gov
 

2 Southwest Fisheries Science Center
 

Marine Mammal Division
 

National Marine Fisheries Service
 

8604 La Jolla Shores Drive
 

La Jolla CA 92037
 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (ret.), Under Secretary and Administrator 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

James W. Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 

March 2008 
This document is available to the public through: 

National Technical Information Service 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

www.ntis.gov 
Notice to Users of this Document 

This document is being made available in .PDF format for the convenience of users; however, the 

accuracy and correctness of the document can only be certified as was presented in the original hard 

copy format. 

ABSTRACT 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducted aerial, land, and shipbased surveys of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska during June and July 

2005, 2006, and 2007. Surveys were timed to assess trends in pup production (late June 

through mid-July) or abundance of adults and juveniles (non-pups; early through late 

June). The aerial photographic survey conducted in 2005 provided the first estimate of 

Steller sea lion pup (newborn) production at all rookeries and major haulouts in Alaska in 

a single year (n = 15,460; 5,510 in southeast Alaska, and 9,950 within the range of the 

western stock of Steller sea lion in Alaska (west of 144°W)). Pups were also surveyed 

during ship and land-based surveys at selected terrestrial locations in 2005 and 2007. 

Aerial surveys to count non-pups on terrestrial sites within the range of the western stock 

were conducted in both 2006 and 2007, but neither resulted in a range-wide assessment 

because of delays caused by weather, maintenance, and issuance of scientific permits. 

The non-pup aerial survey conducted in 2007 was the first to use both vertical digital and 

medium-format film photography (both with forward-motion compensation), allowing 

multiple comparisons of counts at the same sites. 

Despite incomplete surveys conducted in 2006 and 2007, the available data 

indicate that the western Steller sea lion population (non-pups) was stable since 2004 

(when the last complete assessment was done). However, there was considerable 

regional variability in non-pup trends, with increases in the central and western Gulf of 

Alaska and eastern Aleutian Islands being largely offset by decreases in the eastern Gulf 

of Alaska and central and western Aleutian Islands. Overall, counts of non-pups 

iii
increased at an annual rate of 2.1% between 2000 and 2007, but this rate was not 

significantly different from zero (P = 0.08). 

Western stock pup counts exhibited the same regional variability in recent trends 

as counts of non-pups, but overall they were approximately 4% higher in 2005-2007 than 

in 2001-2002. Pup counts in southeast Alaska (part of the eastern stock) increased 13% 

between 2002 and 2005. 

iv
CONTENTS 

ABSTRACT..........................................................................................iii 

METHODS
 

Sub-areas Within the Range of the Western Stock in Alaska..........................4 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.........................................................................22 

APPENDIX..........................................................................................62 

INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1 

Definition of Terrestrial Sites............................................................. 3 

Aerial Surveys for Pups and Non-pups................................................... 6 

Land-based Surveys of Pups............................................................ 11 

Population Trend Analyses.............................................................. 12 

RESULTS .......................................................................................... 14 

DISCUSSION..................................................................................... 19 

CITATIONS.........................................................................................23 

v 

1

INTRODUCTION 

The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is the largest otariid pinniped species in 

the world (Loughlin et al. 1987, Hoover 1988). It inhabits coastal and continental shelf 

regions of the North Pacific Ocean. Along the eastern and northern Pacific coasts, its 

breeding range extends from central California, north through British Columbia, Canada, 

and southeast Alaska, and west through the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aleutian 

Islands in the United States. Along the western Pacific coast, Steller sea lions breed 

along the Kamchatka Peninsula, on various Kuril Islands, and on islands within the Sea 

of Okhotsk in Russia (Loughlin et al. 1987, Hoover 1988). 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed Steller sea lions as 

“threatened” range-wide under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in November 

1990 (55 Federal Register 49204) following a 15% per year decline between 1985 and 

1989 (Merrick et al. 1991, 1992). This short period of rapid decline was preceded by a 

longer period of relatively slow decline (~5% per year) during the 1970s and early 1980s 

(Merrick et al. 1987). 

In 1997, two stocks of Steller sea lion were identified based on differences in 

genetics and population trends (Bickham et al. 1996, Loughlin 1997, 62 Federal Register 

24345). The ESA listing for the western stock, which breeds on rookeries located from 

144° W (just east of Prince William Sound, Alaska) westward to Russia, was changed to 

“endangered”, while the eastern stock, which breeds on rookeries in southeast Alaska 

southward to California, retained its “threatened” classification. Between 1990 and 2000, 

the rate of population decline for the western stock slowed to 5% (Sease et al. 2001), 
possibly in response to the enactment of management measures designed to reduce 

human-related direct mortality (e.g., prohibition of shooting at or near Steller sea lions, 

reduction in the allowable incidental catch in fisheries, and establishment of 3 nautical 

mile (nmi) no-entry zones around rookeries). Between 2000 and 2004, the western stock 

increased at about 3% per year (Fritz and Stinchcomb 2005). In contrast, the eastern 

stock has increased at an annual rate of approximately 3% since at least the late 1970s 

(Pitcher et al. 2007) and may be a candidate for removal from the list of threatened and 

endangered species (NMFS 2008). 

As part of its responsibilities under the ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), NMFS conducted aerial surveys of Steller sea lion non-pups (adults and 

juveniles), and land and ship-based surveys of pups across the range of the western stock 

in Alaska during June and July 2005, 2006, and 2007. These efforts extend the series of 

surveys in Alaska that began in the mid-1970s (Braham et al. 1980; Calkins and Pitcher 

1982; Loughlin et al. 1984; Merrick et al. 1987; Loughlin et al. 1990, 1992; Merrick et al. 

1991; Merrick et al. 1992; Sease et al. 1993; Strick et al. 1997; Sease et al. 1999; Sease 

and Loughlin 1999; Sease et al. 2001; Sease and Gudmundson 2002; Fritz and 

Stinchcomb 2005). This report focuses primarily on counts of pups (new-born) and adult 

and juvenile (non-pup; age 1+ years old) Steller sea lions at terrestrial rookery and haulout sites from 1976 to 2007. A longer historical perspective (1956 to 1990) is available 

in Merrick et al. (1991). Rookeries are those sites where adult male sea lions actively 

defend territories, pups are born, and mating takes place. Haulout sites are those where 

sea lions rest on land (haul out), but where few or no pups are born (Calkins and Pitcher 

1982, Loughlin et al. 1984). Trends in sea lion population size are determined by 

2
analyzing time series of pup and non-pup counts at ‘trend’ sites that have been 

consistently surveyed over time. 

The revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan (NMFS 2008) contains recovery 

criteria to change the listing of the western stock from endangered to threatened (‘downlisting’) and to remove it from the list of species requiring ESA protection (‘delisting’). 

Parts of both ‘down-listing’ and ‘delisting’ criteria involve increases in counts of adults 

and juveniles (non-pups) within the range of the western stock in Alaska. In order to be a 

candidate species for ‘down-listing’, non-pup counts need to increase (statistically 

significant slope > 0) for 15 years on average, while to ‘delist’, counts need to increase at 

a minimum of 3% for 30 years (approximately three generations). Counts reported here 

are relevant in the assessment of the population’s status relative to these recovery goals. 

METHODS 

Definition of Terrestrial Sites 

In addition to the functional definition of a rookery (where adult male sea lions 

actively defend territories, pups are born, and mating takes place), we define a rookery as 

any site at which 50 or more pups have been counted since 1978. This definition differs 

from previous definitions by both the specification of a minimum number of pups as well 

as a time period. Using this rookery definition, some sites listed as rookeries in the 

designation of critical habitat (50 CFR 226.202) are not included as rookeries in this 

analysis, while some sites listed as major haulouts (> 200 animals counted at any time) 

3
are now treated as rookeries. The following sites were reclassified from rookery to 

haulout (Table 1): 

• Agligadak, Semisopochnoi, and Amchitka (East Cape) in the central 

Aleutian Islands. 

The following sites were reclassified from haulout to rookery (Table 1): 

• Chiswell Islands in the eastern Gulf of Alaska. 

• Ushagat in the central Gulf of Alaska. 

• Jude and Lighthouse Rocks in the western Gulf of Alaska. 

• Kanaga/Ship Rock in the central Aleutian Islands. 

Analyses presented here do not alter the designation of critical habitat since all sites that 

moved from the rookery to the major haulout category still meet the abundance threshold 

used for critical habitat designation. 

Counts at rookeries and haulout sites were aggregated separately within each subarea to determine relative abundance at each type of site. Rookeries have a greater 

proportion of mature animals, as well as those that are reproductively active, while 

haulouts have a greater proportion of juvenile animals and presumably non-reproductive 

adults. Aggregating and comparing trends at rookeries and haulouts may provide insight 

into changes in age structure and recruitment to the population. 

Sub-areas Within the Range of the Western Stock in Alaska 

Geographical regions used for analyzing survey results were the same as those 

used in previous survey reports (Merrick et al. 1987; Loughlin et al. 1990; Merrick et al. 

1991; Merrick et al. 1992; Sease et al. 1993; Strick et al. 1997; Sease et al. 1999; Sease 

4
and Loughlin 1999; Sease et al. 2001; Sease and Gudmundson 2002; Fritz and 

Stinchcomb 2005) and those adopted in the Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan (NMFS 

2008). These include three regions in the Gulf of Alaska, three regions in the Aleutian 

Islands, and one in the eastern Bering Sea (Fig. 1): 

• Eastern Gulf of Alaska (E GULF: approximately 145°-150°W). 

• Central Gulf of Alaska (C GULF: 150°-157°W). 

• Western Gulf of Alaska (W GULF: 157°-163°W). 

• Eastern Aleutian Islands (E ALEU: 163°-169°W). 

• Central Aleutian Islands (C ALEU: 169°W–177°E). 

• Western Aleutian Islands (W ALEU: 172°-177°E). 

Another geographical region used during the analyses of survey data extends from 

the Kenai Peninsula (Outer Island; 150°W) to Kiska Island (177°E; Fig. 1). This index 

area includes all of the central and western Gulf of Alaska, and the eastern and central 

Aleutian Islands, and encompasses what historically was the heart of the Steller sea lions’ 

range (Merrick et al. 1987, NMFS 2008). In past surveys (Fritz and Stinchcomb 2005), 

the Kenai-to-Kiska region has included between 74% and 88% of the western Steller sea 

lion population in Alaska. 

Except for the distinction between the eastern and western stocks, the 

geographical divisions used in this report are arbitrary and may not accurately reflect the 

underlying structure of the population. We present results for each region to identify and 

highlight varying population trends. However, readers should not assume that sea lion 

populations in one region are separate and independent of those in other regions. 

5
York et al. (1996), using a cluster analysis based on location and similarities in 

population trends, derived groupings of rookeries that were similar to those used here to 

present survey results. The differences between the rookery clusters identified by York et 

al. (1996) and those used here are: 1) York et al. (1996) did not include western stock 

rookeries in the E GULF, 2) York et al. (1996) grouped Atkins Island with the C GULF 

instead of the W GULF, and 3) York et al. (1996) grouped Buldir Island with the C 

ALEU instead of the W ALEU. 

Aerial Surveys for Pups and Non-Pups 

Aerial surveys for non-pups are conducted in mid-June through early July which 

corresponds to the middle and end of the breeding season (Pitcher et al. 2001) when the 

greatest proportion of adults is onshore. Pup surveys are conducted in late June through 

mid-July which is after the peak in pupping, when most pups are ≤ 1 month old, and prior 

to the age when most pups enter the water (Pitcher et al. 2001). For non-pup surveys, 

daily effort was restricted to the hours between approximately 0900 and 1800 local time 

when sea lions are most likely to be hauled-out (Sease and Gudmundson 2002). 

2005 (Pups)

An aerial survey to assess Steller sea lion pup production in Alaska (from Dixon 

Entrance at 133°W to Attu Island at 172°E) was conducted from 21 June to 10 July 2005 

(Fig. 1). This was the first Alaska-wide survey conducted using medium-format (MF) 

vertical (film plane parallel to the ground) photography to assess Steller sea lion pup 

production. The 2005 MF aerial photographic survey was conducted by the Marine 

Mammal Division of the NMFS’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The 

6
survey was conducted using a Rockwell Aero Commander aircraft (i.e., high-wing, lowspeed survey plane) operated by Commanders NorthWest and photographs of rookeries 

and major haulouts were taken with a 5-inch military reconnaissance camera (with 

image-motion compensation) mounted in the belly of the aircraft. Since the primary 

objective of the 2005 aerial survey was to assess pup production, all rookeries within the 

Alaskan range of the western (n = 39) and eastern (n = 5) stocks of Steller sea lion were 

surveyed, along with major haulouts within the Alaskan range of the western stock (n = 

15) where 10 or more pups had been observed in previous surveys (Table 2). 

Photographs were taken vertically over terrestrial sea lion sites at altitudes of at 

least 700 ft between 0900 and 2000 local time. Steller sea lion pups less than 2 months 

of age do not forage on their own and thus, do not enter the water as often or as regularly 

as adults and juveniles. Therefore, timing (within each day) of an aerial survey for pups 

is not as critical as during a non-pup survey (Sease and Gudmundson 2002). Pups, as 

well as adults and juveniles (non-pups), were counted off the photographic images using 

a zoom dissecting scope mounted on a light table. Clear acetate sheets were placed over 

the film and individual animals counted using a fine-tip permanent marker and a digital 

manual counter. Non-pups were assigned to one of four age-sex categories (juveniles, 

adult females, sub-adult males, and adult males) based on size, shape, and location within 

the rookery (which reflect age and gender differences in behavior during the breeding 

season; Chumbley et al. 1997). Sea lion numbers from the 2005 survey (Table 2) are 

those of a single counter (M. Lynn). 

7
2006 (Non-pups)

An aerial survey to assess trends in numbers of western stock adult and juvenile 

Steller sea lions in Alaska (from Cape St. Elias at 145°W to Attu Island at 172°E) was 

conducted by NMFS from 14 to 30 June 2006 (Fig. 1). As in 2004 (Fritz and Stinchcomb 

2005) and 2005, the 2006 survey was conducted using MF vertical photography by 

SWFSC using the same Aero Commander survey aircraft. At sites with fewer than 10 

animals, a visual count was obtained by a forward observer in the airplane and no 

photographs were taken. Aerial surveys for non-pups are conducted in mid-late June, 

when the greatest proportion of adults is onshore to give birth and breed. The 2006 

survey, however, did not result in a complete assessment of numbers at trend sites across 

the Alaska range of the western stock of Steller sea lion. Trend sites are those that have 

been consistently surveyed since the mid-1970s (1970s trend sites) or 1991 (1990s trend 

sites; see section below “Population Trend Analysis”). In 2006, only 53 of 87 1970s 

trend sites, and 106 of 161 1990s trend sites were surveyed (Table 1) due to: 1) a delayed 

start of the survey, as well as a hard termination date of 30 June because of a courtordered cessation (issued on 26 May 2006) of all Steller sea lion research authorized by 

permits issued by NMFS under the MMPA and ESA, and 2) low clouds and fog which 

reduced the number of flying days. 

In June 2006, all 1970s and 1990s trend sites were surveyed in the E GULF and 

the E ALEU. In addition, all 1970s and 1990s trend sites except one were surveyed in 

the W GULF (missed the rookery on Chernabura Island) and the W ALEU (missed the 

rookery on Buldir Island). However, in the C GULF, only 7 of 16 1970s and 14 of 33 

1990s trend sites were surveyed in June 2006, while in the C ALEU, only 15 of 38 1970s 

8
and 24 of 58 1990s trend sites were surveyed. Counting methodologies for the 2006 

survey were the same as those employed for the 2005 survey, and sea lion numbers 

(Table 1) are those of a single counter (M. Lynn). Sea lions were counted off 

photographs from 13 sites by two additional counters; all site non-pup totals were within 

5% of those of the primary counter and 70% of the duplicate counts were within 1%. 

2007 (Non-pups)

Since the 2006 survey was unable assess trends throughout the Alaskan range of 

the western stock, an aerial survey for non-pups was conducted from 9 June-6 July 2007 

by personnel from both SWFSC and the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML), 

NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The 2007 survey was conducted using mediumformat photography as described for the 2004-2006 surveys, but also employed 

simultaneous digital, vertically-oriented photography (with forward motion 

compensation); both cameras were mounted side-by-side in a single belly port of a 

NOAA deHavilland Twin Otter aircraft (NOAA, Aircraft Operations Center, Tampa FL). 

The firing rate for both cameras was set for 60% overlap between successive pictures 

(based on altitude and speed over ground of the plane) to ensure complete site coverage 

and to obtain multiple views of individual animals. The 2007 survey was the first use of 

a digital camera (Canon EOS-1DS Mark II with a 50 mm lens) with forward motion 

compensation in the aerial survey for adult and juvenile Steller sea lions. 

A total of 112 terrestrial sites were photographed with either the digital or film 

camera or both. The film camera had mechanical problems that resulted in 23 sites being 

photographed solely by the digital camera. Photographs taken by the digital camera 

9
(Fig. 2) with a 50 mm lens had a slightly smaller footprint (side-to-side) than those taken 

by the film camera. Consequently, at sites where sea lions occupied a wide beach area 

(e.g., Pinnacle Rock), the digital camera was unable to photograph the same swath width 

as the film camera. Therefore, at these sites (n = 17), only the photographs from the film 

camera were counted. 

In 2007, 65 of the 87 trend sites from the 1970s, and 124 of the 161 trend sites 

from the 1990s were surveyed across the western stock in Alaska. Only in the E GULF 

were all trend sites surveyed. In the remaining sub-areas in 2007, the survey: 

• Missed one 1970s and 1990s trend haulout (Long Island) in the C GULF. 

• Photographed all 1970s trend sites but missed one 1990s trend haulout (Kak 

Island) in the W GULF. 

• Missed one 1970s and 1990s trend haulout (Umnak/Cape Aslik) in the E ALEU. 

• Was limited to the eastern portion of the C ALEU between Yunaska and Tanaga 

Islands (170° 30’-178°W), with very little effort occurring west of Amchitka Pass. 

• Had no effort in the W ALEU (Table 1). 

To analyze trends at the largest number of 1990s trend sites through 2007, new 

sub-area clusters of sites were created in the C GULF, W GULF, and E ALEU that 

eliminated the single missed haulout in each sub-area for the entire 1991-2006 time 

series. In addition, the C ALEU sub-area was divided roughly in half creating eastern 

(Islands of Four Mountains through Tanaga Island; 169°30’–178°W) and western 

(Delarof Islands through Attu Island; 178°W–172°E) portions. Sites within the eastern C 

ALEU were surveyed in either 2006 or in 2007, or in both years, while most of the sites 

in the western C ALEU were missed in both years. Counts at trend sites in the eastern C 

10
ALEU from 2006 and 2007 were averaged to obtain a single composite count for the 2 

years. 

Two researchers working independently counted all adult and juvenile Steller sea 

lions at each terrestrial site photographed during the 2007 survey. Each researcher 

counted all sea lions on both the digital (Fig. 2) and MF film images. Counts were 

statistically compared between researchers for each media type as well as between media 

types for each counter using paired sample t-tests (Snedecor 1946). 

Land-Based Surveys of Pups 

Pups were counted directly during visits to selected rookeries during cruises 

conducted by NMFS from 20 June to 7 July 2005 and 22 June to 6 July 2007 aboard the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service RV Tiglax. During the 2005 cruise, beach counts of pups 

were conducted at 10 rookeries and major haulouts from the eastern Aleutian Islands to 

the eastern Gulf of Alaska; in 2007, beach counts were conducted at 4 rookeries in the 

Aleutian Islands (Table 1). Beach counts were conducted by two or three people after 

most sea lions older than pups were safely cleared from the beach; all live pups on the 

beach and in the water were counted. The final pup count for each rookery was the mean 

of the two or three individual counts. 

Pup counts conducted from overlooks were done at several sites without 

disturbing sea lions on the beach. This was done at sites where vantage points offered 

clear views of the entire rookery beach. Shore-based observers counted pups daily at 

Marmot and Ugamak Islands from overlooks in June and July 2007. Complete counts of 

pups were available on two separate beach rookeries on Marmot Island and one of two on 

11
Ugamak Island (south side at Ugamak Bay). Counts at each beach by separate observers 

were averaged; the maximum daily sum for Marmot Island in 2007 is reported here. 

Population Trend Analyses 

Analyses of trends in pup and non-pup counts were focused on counts at a series of 

‘trend’ sites. Trend sites are those rookeries and haulout sites surveyed consistently over 

a period of time, thus allowing analyses of population trends on decadal scales. The 

following groups of trend sites were used: 

• ‘1970s trend sites’ (n = 87): 32 rookeries and 55 haulouts consistently surveyed 

from the 1970s to the present. The ‘1970s trend sites’ have between 70% and 

80% of the total number of animals observed on all sites during a survey. 

• ‘1990s trend sites’ (n = 161): sites consistently surveyed from 1991 to the present. 

This group includes all the ‘1970s trend sites’, but also includes 74 other 

rookeries and haulouts surveyed routinely since 1991. The ‘1990s trend sites’ 

have had between 90% and 98% of the total number of animals observed on all 

sites during a survey. 

• Trend rookeries (n = 31): sites at which pup production has been assessed on a 

regular basis since the late 1970s. This includes all sites identified as rookeries in 

Table 1 with the exception of Chiswell Islands, Ushagat, Lighthouse Rocks, Jude, 

Sea Lion Rock (Amak), Ogchul, Kanaga (Ship Rock), and Walrus. 

To determine trends in the non-pup population, annual totals at 1970s and 1990s 

trend sites were computed for each of the following regions: 

• The western stock in Alaska (Cape St. Elias to Attu Island; 144°W-172°E). 

12
• The Kenai-to-Kiska index area. 

• Each of the three sub-areas in both the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. 

• Modified (minus one haulout) sub-area site groups in the C GULF, W GULF, E 

ALEU and eastern and western portions of the C ALEU. 

Overall regional changes in numbers of non-pups for various time periods are 

expressed as a percentage of the earlier count. Estimates of annual rates of change (AR) 

for various time periods are derived from regression coefficients (m) of log-linear 

regressions of the natural logarithm of the non-pup counts on the survey years; 

AR = em-1. Tests of the significance of the regression coefficient (H0: m = 0 vs. 

H1: m ≠ 0) were done at the 95% level (α < 0.05). Trends in pup counts on trend 

rookeries were analyzed only by calculating the percent change in numbers for similar 

time periods and regions used in the non-pup analyses. 

Fritz and Stinchcomb (2005) reported that non-pup counts from vertical MF 

images were significantly higher than those from 35 mm slides. This difference required 

an adjustment factor of -3.64% be applied to all vertical MF (and now vertical digital) 

counts in order to properly analyze time series trends in sub-areas or throughout the 

western stock that include years when only counts from 35 mm oblique images are 

available. 

RESULTS 

Counts of Steller sea lions from aerial and land-based surveys conducted in 2005, 

2006, and 2007 are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Aerial and land-based surveys in 2005 

13
provided the first Alaska-wide assessment of pup production for a single year (Table 2). 

At 10 sites, both aerial and land-based counts were available. If the greater of these 

counts is used for the site total and it is assumed that these counts are a complete census, 

then Steller sea lion pup production (assessed at approximately 1 month of age) in Alaska 

in 2005 totaled 15,460 (5,510 in southeast Alaska, and 9,950 in the range of the western 

stock). 

From the 2007 aerial survey, there were 45 sites at which both digital images and 

MF photographs were available for comparison of counts from the two media and 

between counters (Table 3). Additionally, another group of 95 sites were photographed 

using a digital camera, while another group of 62 were photographed with the MF camera 

(Table 3). None of the groups of paired counts were statistically different from each 

other (all P > 0.1; Table 4), indicating that counts by either counter using either media 

were replicate estimates of the true count. Counts listed by site for the 2007 aerial survey 

in Table 1 are the means of all available counts for each site (n = 2 if images from only 

one media type were available, otherwise n = 4; Table 3). 

Complete 1970s trend site counts are available only from the E GULF in 2006 

and 2007, from the W GULF in 2007, and from the E ALEU in 2006 (Table 5). 

Consequently, complete 1970s trend site counts across the range of the western stock in 

Alaska are only available through 2004. Between 2004 and either 2006 or 2007 within 

the three sub-areas listed above, counts at 1970s trend sites were essentially stable in the 

E GULF and E ALEU. Counts in these two sub-areas had increased over 20% in the 

previous 4 years (2000 to 2004), indicating that the population in these sub-areas may 

have stabilized in recent years. Counts at 1970s trend sites in the W GULF increased 

14
17% between 2004 and 2007, which continued the increase observed there since 2000 

(Fig. 3). 

Complete 1990s trend site counts are available only from the E GULF in 2006 

and 2007 and from the E ALEU in 2006 (Table 6). During both the 2006 and 2007 aerial 

surveys, researchers observed that sea lions at each of two 1990s trend sites, Aialik Cape 

in the E GULF and Unalaska/Makushin Bay in the E ALEU had moved from their 

previous locations. At Aialik Cape, sea lions (103 non-pups in 2006 and 161 in 2007) 

were hauled out approximately 1 nautical mile to the west of the Cape itself. Similarly, at 

Makushin Bay (60 in 2006), they were using small rock outcroppings nearer the mouth of 

the Bay than in the past. Since these are relatively small changes in distribution, non-pup 

counts at these two new locations were added to those at the individual trend sites. As a 

result, counts at 1990s trends sites in 2006 in the E GULF and E ALEU reported here 

(Tables 1 and 5) are higher than those reported in a 2006 Memorandum to the Record by 

Fritz et al. (see Appendix ). As with the 1970s trend sites, complete Alaskan western 

stock 1990s trend site counts are available only through 2004. At the complete group of 

1990s trend sites between 2004 and either 2006 or 2007, counts declined 8% in the E 

GULF but were essentially stable in the E ALEU (Fig. 4). 

Counts at the modified group of 1990s trend sites (missing one site in each subarea) were available from the C GULF and W GULF in 2007, from the E ALEU in both 

2006 and 2007, and from the W ALEU in 2006; all 1990s trend sited were surveyed in 

the E GULF (Table 7). Counts at this modified list of sites were not available in 2006 in 

the C GULF, W GULF, C ALEU, or W ALEU (Table 1). In the eastern portion of the C 

ALEU, the sum of the mean of 2006 and 2007 counts (Table 1) at each site was 

15
computed; no data have been collected since 2004 in the western portion of the C ALEU. 

Trends in total non-pup counts at the modified group of trend sites are identical to those 

at the complete list in each sub-area between 1991 and 2004 (Tables 6 and 7; Fig. 4). In 

the C GULF, W GULF, and E ALEU, counts at the modified group of 1990s trend sites 

increased between 3% and 13% between 2004 and 2006-2007 (Fig. 4). In the C GULF, 

this is the first increase in counts since the beginning of the survey time series in the 

1970s (Table 5). In the W GULF and E ALEU, recent increases, while encouraging, 

were considerably less than those observed between 2000 and 2004 (33% and 20%, 

respectively). In the eastern portion of the C ALEU, non-pup counts declined between 

1991 and 1996, and then increased through 2004. Summing the average site counts from 

the 2006 and 2007 surveys suggests that the non-pup population in this area declined 

16% between 2004 and 2006-2007. 

The best estimate of recent (2004-2007) trend of adults and juveniles in the 

western stock of Steller sea lion in Alaska is available by comparing counts in the three 

Gulf of Alaska areas, the E ALEU, the eastern portion of the C ALEU and the W ALEU 

in 2004, with the same sub-areas in 2006-2007. In 2004, non-pup counts in these subareas totaled 24,502, which was adjusted downward by 3.64% to 23,610 (Table 7) to 

allow comparisons with counts from previous years using 35 mm oblique photos (Fritz 

and Stinchcomb 2005). The best estimate of the non-pup total for these same sub-areas 

in 2006-2007 is 24,440 (adjusted count of 23,550 in Table 7), a difference of only 62 sea 

lions or essentially unchanged from 2004. This suggests that the increase in the non-pup 

population observed between 2000 and 2004 (14% in the sub-areas summarized in Table 

7) was not sustained through 2007, and that the current trend of western Steller sea lions 

16
in Alaska is stable. Regressing the natural log of the counts on the years from 2000 to 

2006-2007 (value of 2006.5) yields a non-significant relationship (P = 0.08) with an 

estimated annual rate of change of 2.1% (with 95% confidence bounds of -0.6% to 4.8%). 

Trends and comparisons of counts of non-pups at rookeries and haulouts can 

indicate demographic changes in the population that may be related to trends in the 

overall population (Tables 8 and 9; Fig. 5). During the breeding season, haulouts are 

composed predominately of juvenile and non-reproductive adults, while the majority of 

the breeding population (and pups) are at rookeries. An increase in haulout numbers 

could be the result of increases in natality and/or juvenile survival, while a decrease could 

mean a decline in the rate of recruitment. In all western Alaska sub-areas, numbers of 

non-pups on rookeries declined from 1991 through 2000, while numbers on haulouts 

were largely without trend through 1998. In two sub-areas where non-pup counts have 

been either stable or increasing since 2000, the W GULF and E ALEU, non-pups on 

rookeries steadily increased from 2000 through 2007, while numbers on haulouts 

declined or remained steady. This pattern of increases on rookeries and decreases on 

haulouts is evident, though to a lesser degree, in the eastern portion of the C ALEU as 

well. In those sub-areas that have continued to decline (C GULF and western portion of 

the C ALEU through at least 2004, and the W ALEU through 2006), non-pup numbers on 

both rookeries and haulouts declined. Across most of the western stock in Alaska (Fig. 5 

H and I), rookery counts increased 21% between 2000 (n = 12,842) and 2006-2007 

(n = 15,486), while counts at haulouts increased only 2% in the same time period (7,958 

to 8,064; Table 9; Fig. 5). Trends at rookeries and haulouts since 2000 are consistent 

with a population whose mean age is increasing (increases at rookeries and declines or 

17
stability at haulouts) possibly due to high survivorship of juveniles and adults along with 

a drop in pup production. 

In the E GULF, there have been approximately the same number of non-pups on 

rookeries as on haulouts, indicating that the adult and juvenile (including nonreproductive adult) portions of the population in this region are generally equivalent. In 

all other western stock sub-areas in Alaska, non-pup counts on rookeries exceed those on 

haulouts in the vast majority of years. The E GULF pattern indicates that this sub-area 

has a higher concentration of juvenile Steller sea lions than others. Sightings of large 

numbers of animals branded as pups on rookeries in the C GULF, E GULF, and southeast 

Alaska (eastern stock) in Prince William Sound and the surrounding E GULF waters 

support this conclusion (NMML, unpublished data). 

 Recent (since 2000) trends in pup production by sub-area (Tables 10 and 11; 

Fig. 6) have lagged behind trends in counts of non-pups. Overall pup production at trend 

rookeries in the western stock in Alaska has essentially been stable between 2001-2002 

and 2005-2007, showing an increase of only 4% in as many as 6 years. By contrast, nonpup counts increased by 11-14% over much of this same period (2000 to 2004; Tables 5-

7). Non-pup counts in the E GULF, W GULF, and E ALEU increased by 20-43% 

between 2000 and 2004, then their rate of increase either slowed (W GULF and E ALEU) 

or non-pup numbers declined (E GULF). Pup counts increased by 22% in the E GULF 

and 25% in the E ALEU between 2001-2002 and 2005-2007, but only by 2% in the W 

GULF. Where non-pup numbers have stabilized or are slowly declining (C GULF and C 

ALEU), pup production also declined slowly (-2%). However, where the non-pup 

18
population continued to decline (W ALEU), pup production dropped precipitously 

(-30%). 

DISCUSSION 

Despite incomplete adult and juvenile surveys across the range of the western 

stock in Alaska in 2006 and 2007, there is sufficient information to indicate that the 

overall population increase observed between 2000 and 2004 did not continue through 

2007. Apparent overall stability, however, was not uniform across the range; increases in 

the C GULF, W GULF, and E ALEU sub-areas were largely offset by decreases toward 

the eastern and western edges of the Alaskan range. 

Trends in counts of non-pups on rookeries and haulouts since 1991, particularly in 

the area from the W GULF through the eastern C ALEU, are consistent with recent 

changes in sea lion vital rates (Holmes et al. 2007). Modeling of the female Steller sea 

lion population in the C GULF indicated that survivorship (particularly of juveniles) 

increased between the late 1980s and early 2000s, while birth rates steadily declined to a 

level 64% of that estimated for the mid-1970s (Holmes et al. 2007). Greater survivorship 

of juveniles may be reflected by increasing number of animals counted on haulouts in the 

early 1990s followed by increases at rookeries in the late 1990s and early 2000s 

(Fig. 5 and in particular, panels C, D, and E). However, the numbers on haulouts did not 

continue to increase in parallel with those on rookeries after 1998, perhaps reflecting the 

continued estimated decline in birth rates. Recent (since 1998) trends in rookery and 

haulout numbers could also reflect declines in juvenile survivorship; however, 

19
preliminary results from 6 years of observations of animals marked as pups between 2000 

and 2005 indicate otherwise (Fritz et al. 2008). 

Values of the t-statistic from the series of paired sample tests comparing counts 

between media and counters using data from the 2007 aerial non-pup survey indicate that 

differences between counters were larger than differences between media. This suggests 

that individual counter differences in recognizing sea lions in photographic images were 

greater than any differences in resolution between the two media types, though none of 

the differences were statistically significant. This result is different than the comparison 

of counts from oblique 35 mm and vertical MF photographs, in which, MF counts were 

significantly higher than those from 35 mm slides, requiring a 3.6% correction factor 

(Fritz and Stinchcomb 2005). 

Calkins and Pitcher (1982) and Pitcher et al. (2007) evaluated a range of factors 

that, when multiplied by an estimate of the total number of pups born, could be used to 

estimate the total sea lion population. For a stable population at equilibrium, the 

multiplier was 4.5. If this is applied to the most recent estimate of pup production in the 

range of the western stock in Alaska (9,950 in 2005), a population estimate of 44,775 

Steller sea lions is obtained; this estimate does not account for any pup mortality between 

birth and the survey. Recent (2000-2005) counts of dead pups at selected rookeries 

during land-based surveys have averaged about 4% (dead pup count/total pup count; 

NMML, unpublished data). Accounting for this early pup mortality would increase the 

total population estimate of Steller sea lions in the range of the western stock in Alaska to 

46,160. 

20
While the trend in counts of non-pups in the western stock in Alaska since 2000 

remains positive (2.1% per year), it is not significantly different from a slope of zero 

(P = 0.08). One of the recovery criteria for down-listing the western stock from 

endangered to threatened status states that non-pup counts should be increasing for at 

least 15 years. From 2000 to 2004, non-pup counts increased between 11% and 14% 

depending on which index area is evaluated within Alaska, but since then, population 

growth has stalled. Based on the retrospective analysis of sea lion vital rates, population 

increases appear to be dependent on improvements in birth rates of adult females, as well 

as maintenance of the high rates of adult and juvenile survival observed in recent years 

(Holmes et al. 2007). 

21
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

This is dedicated to Ralph Akin and Rick Posusta of Commanders Northwest, 

Wenatchee, WA, who made the transition from oblique 35 mm to vertical mediumformat photography possible, and to Kevin Bell, captain of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service MV Tiglax. Their knowledge of the Aleutians, their dedication to their craft, 

their enthusiasm, and their love of life will be sorely missed. We also thank Mark 

Nelson, Nick Toth, Phil Eastman, Kevin Roteveel, and the rest of NOAA Aircraft 

Operations Center, Tampa, FL, for all their efforts in arranging and conducting the 2007 

aerial survey. In addition, the move to digital photography in 2007 was made possible by 

Don LeRoi (Aircraft Imaging Solutions, Old Lyme, CN) and his magical software and 

camera controller. We thank the crew of the MV Tiglax for their assistance in obtaining 

counts of sea lion pups from shore, as well as the field camp observers at Marmot and 

Ugamak Islands from 2005 to 2007. The comments and suggested changes provided by 

Brian Fadely, Tom Gelatt, Devin Johnson, and Libby Logerwell greatly improved the 

manuscript. We also thank Wayne Perryman, NMFS SWFSC, La Jolla, CA, whose 

advice, knowledge and enthusiasm was invaluable to this project. 

22
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26
Table 1.--Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup) Steller sea lions at rookery (1 = rookery; 

Rook.) and haulout sites in Alaska, June and July 2005-2007 (M = month, D = day). 

In 2005 and 2006, non-pups were counted from medium format (MF) photographs 

taken vertically over each site. Non-pup counts in 2007 are from both MF 

photographs and digital images taken vertically over each site (mean of two 

counters and two media types if available). *The primary objective of the 2005 

survey was to assess pup production at all rookery and major haulout sites; some 

sites were surveyed outside of the normal time range of other non-pup surveys. 

**Adult and juvenile counts in 2007 at these locations were from land-based 

overlooks. For ‘boxed’ sites under rookery or trend site columns, see notes at end. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

Southeast Alaska 

WHITE SISTERS 1 7 10 1,078 

BIALI ROCK 1 7 10 598 

HAZY 1 7 10 2,293 

FORRESTER/SEA LION RK 7 10 962 

FORRESTER/EAST RK 7 10 258 

FORRESTER/NORTH 7 10 1,389 

FORRESTER/C HORN RK 7 10 414 

FORRESTER/LOWRIE 

1 

 7 10 2,534 

GRAVES ROCK 1 7 10 1,326 

Southeast Alaska Total 5 10,852 

 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

CAPE ST. ELIAS 1 1 6 14 414 6 9 728 

HOOK POINT 6 14 101 6 9 132 

CAPE HINCHINBROOK 1 6 14 237 6 9 95 

SEAL ROCKS 1 1 1 6 21 1,049 6 14 1,119 6 9 803 

WOODED (FISH) 1 1 1 6 21 436 6 14 619 6 9 282 

MIDDLETON 6 14 0 6 9 0 

GLACIER 1 1 6 14 466 6 9 531 

THE NEEDLE 1 1 6 14 127 6 9 145 

POINT ELEANOR 6 14 0 6 9 0 

PERRY 6 14 218 6 9 437 

PLEIADES 6 14 0 6 9 0 

POINT LaTOUCHE 6 14 0 6 9 0 

DANGER 6 14 10 6 9 119 

POINT ELRINGTON 1 1 6 14 58 6 9 37 

PROCESSION ROCKS 6 14 67 6 9 77 

CAPE PUGET 1 6 14 0 6 9 0 

CAPE JUNKEN 6 14 0 6 9 0 

27
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

CAPE FAIRFIELD 1 6 14 0 6 9 10 

CAPE RESURRECTION 6 14 0 6 9 12 

RUGGED 1 1 6 14 0 6 9 0 

AIALIK CAPE 1 6 14 103 6 9 161 

CHISWELL ISLANDS 1 1 1 6 21 93 6 14 71 6 9 74 

GRANITE CAPE 6 14 89 6 9 25 

SEAL ROCKS (KENAI) 1 1 6 14 4 6 9 2 

STEEP POINT 6 14 11 6 9 0 

Unnamed rock between STEEP & RABBIT 6 9 90 

RABBIT 6 14 0 6 9 0 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska Total 3 9 13 1,578 3,714 3,755 

 

Central Gulf of Alaska 

OUTER (PYE) 1 1 6 21 367 6 14 251 6 9 268 

NUKA POINT 6 14 0 6 9 0 

GORE POINT 1 6 14 0 6 9 0 

EAST CHUGACH 1 6 9 0 

PERL 1 6 9 241 

PERL ROCKS 6 9 0 

NAGAHUT ROCKS 1 6 9 2 

ELIZABETH/CAPE ELIZABETH 1 6 9 0 

FLAT 6 9 44 

WEST AMATULI 6 14 0 6 10 0 

SUGARLOAF 1 1 1 6 21 767 6 14 733 7 6 662 

USHAGAT/NW 1 1 6 14 0 6 10 0 

USHAGAT/SW 1 1 1 6 14 141 6 10 74 

USHAGAT/ROCKS SOUTH 1 1 6 14 9 7 6 0 

SUD 6 14 0 6 10 0 

LATAX ROCKS 1 1 6 10 115 

SEA OTTER 1 6 10 100 

RK NEAR SEA OTTER 1 6 10 0 

AFOGNAK/TONKI CAPE 1 6 10 0 

SEA LION ROCKS (MARMOT) 1 1 6 10 1 

MARMOT 1 1 1 6 23 765 6 30 686 6 10 551 

LONG ISLAND 1 1 

KODIAK/CAPE CHINIAK 1 1 6 10 241 

UGAK 1 6 10 0 

KODIAK/GULL POINT 1 6 10 148 

KODIAK/CAPE BARNABAS 1 1 6 10 140 

TWOHEADED 1 1 6 23 367 6 10 228 

SITKINAK/CAPE SITKINAK 1 1 6 10 104 

KODIAK/SUNDSTROM 6 10 0 

KODIAK/CAPE ALITAK 6 10 0 

KODIAK/CAPE IKOLIK 6 15 52 6 10 33 

KODIAK/TOMBSTONE ROCKS 6 15 0 6 10 0 

28
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

KODIAK/CAPE KULIUK 6 15 0 6 10 0 

KODIAK/CAPE UGAT 1 6 15 167 6 10 248 

NOISY 6 15 0 6 10 0 

KODIAK/MALINA POINT 6 15 0 6 10 0 

KODIAK/STEEP CAPE 1 6 15 14 6 10 61 

KODIAK/CAPE PARAMANOF 6 15 0 6 10 0 

SHAW 6 15 162 7 6 1 

CAPE DOUGLAS 6 15 0 7 6 0 

SHAKUN ROCKS 1 6 15 67 7 6 113 

CAPE NUKSHAK 6 15 0 7 6 0 

CAPE UGYAK 6 15 0 7 6 0 

CAPE GULL 6 15 0 7 6 0 

CAPE KULIAK 6 15 0 7 6 4 

TAKLI 1 6 15 157 7 6 92 

KODIAK/CAPE UYAK 6 15 0 6 10 0 

KODIAK/STURGEON HEAD 6 15 0 6 10 0 

PUALE BAY 1 6 15 2 7 6 1 

KILOKAK ROCKS 6 15 144 7 6 198 

AIUGNAK COLUMNS 6 15 24 7 6 7 

UGAIUSHAK 1 1 6 15 0 7 6 2 

SUTWIK 1 1 6 15 114 7 6 127 

AGHIYUK 6 30 5 6 14 9 

CHOWIET 1 1 1 6 23 624 6 14 424 

CHIRIKOF 1 1 1 6 23 392 6 14 300 

NAGAI ROCKS 1 6 23 329 6 14 449 

Central Gulf of Alaska Total 6 16 33 3,611 2,728 4,984 

 

Western Gulf of Alaska 

LIGHTHOUSE ROCKS 1 1 6 23 182 6 30 153 6 14 152 

ATKULIK 6 15 0 

KAK 1 6 15 24 

CHANKLIUT 6 30 0 

SEAL CAPE 6 30 0 

MITROFANIA 1 6 30 103 6 14 116 

SPITZ 1 1 6 15 0 6 14 11 

KUPREANOF POINT 1 6 15 116 6 14 53 

CASTLE ROCK 1 1 6 15 15 6 14 38 

BIG KONIUJI 6 15 0 6 14 0 

ATKINS 1 1 1 6 23 682 6 15 663 6 14 585 

CHERNABURA 1 1 1 7 9 873 6 14 1,228 

TWINS 6 30 0 6 14 0 

THE HAYSTACKS 1 6 15 1 6 14 41 

THE WHALEBACK 1 6 23 88 6 16 99 6 14 83 

NAGAI/MOUNTAIN POINT 1 1 6 30 56 6 14 148 

NAGAI/RK W OF CAPE WEDGE 6 15 0 6 14 0 

29
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

EGG (SAND POINT) 6 16 0 6 14 0 

SEA LION ROCKS (SHUMAGINS) 1 1 6 30 142 6 14 44 

UNGA/CAPE UNGA 6 30 0 6 14 0 

UNGA/ACHEREDIN POINT 1 6 30 152 6 14 229 

JUDE 1 1 6 23 418 6 30 338 6 14 445 

OMEGA 6 28 1 6 14 0 

WOSNESENSKI 6 18 113 6 14 110 

OLGA ROCKS NE 6 18 28 6 14 36 

OLGA ROCKS SW 6 18 102 6 14 95 

SUSHILNOI ROCKS 6 25 62 6 18 327 6 16 289 

PINNACLE ROCK 1 1 1 6 25 892 6 18 1,167 6 16 1,057 

HUNT 6 18 0 6 16 0 

SOZAVARIKA 6 18 0 6 16 0 

UMGA 6 18 0 6 16 0 

CLUBBING ROCKS 1 1 1 6 25 709 6 18 1,037 6 16 1,063 

CHERNI 1 6 18 0 6 16 0 

HAGUE ROCK 6 18 0 6 16 0 

CATON 6 18 368 6 16 416 

SOUTH ROCKS 1 7 9 270 6 18 320 6 16 457 

SANAK 6 18 0 6 16 0 

BIRD 1 1 6 18 62 6 16 97 

ROCK 1 6 18 0 6 16 0 

Western Gulf of Alaska Total 6 9 20 4,176 5,387 6,790 

 

Eastern Aleutian Islands 

UNIMAK/CAPE LAZAREF 6 16 0 

UNIMAK/OKSENOF POINT 6 25 269 

UNIMAK/CAPE LUTKE 6 18 0 6 16 0 

UNIMAK/SCOTCH CAP 6 18 0 6 16 0 

UNIMAK/CAVE POINT 

UNIMAK/SENNETT POINT 6 18 1 6 21 0 

UNIMAK/CAPE SARICHEF 1 6 18 6 6 21 0 

AMAK+ROCKS 1 1 6 18 410 6 25 220 

SEA LION ROCK (AMAK) 1 1 1 6 23 524 6 18 447 6 25 385 

UGAMAK/NORTH 6 25 650 6 18 635 6 25 669 

UGAMAK/UGAMAK BAY 6 25 518 6 18 543 6 25 654 

UGAMAK/ROUND 

1 1 1 

6 25 89 6 18 141 6 25 170 

AIKTAK 1 6 18 111 6 21 49 

KALIGAGAN 6 18 0 6 21 6 

TIGALDA/ROCKS NE 1 6 18 202 6 21 236 

TIGALDA/SOUTH SIDE 1 6 18 83 6 21 105 

Unnamed rock between TIGALDA & AVATANAK 6 21 42 

BASALT ROCK 6 17 4 6 16 0 

ROOTOK/EAST 6 17 69 6 21 2 

ROOTOK/NORTH 1 6 17 27 6 21 139 

30
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

TANGINAK 1 6 17 6 6 16 4 

AKUN/JACKASS POINT 6 17 0 6 16 0 

AKUN/AKUN BAY 6 18 0 6 16 18 

AKUN/BILLINGS HEAD 1 1 1 6 25 422 6 14 338 6 16 523 

AKUN/AKUN HEAD 6 18 0 6 16 0 

AKUTAN/NORTH HEAD 6 16 0 

AKUTAN/REEF-LAVA 1 1 6 17 103 6 25 57 

AKUTAN/CAPE MORGAN 1 1 1 6 25 1,059 6 17 1,249 6 25 1,172 

AKUTAN/BATTERY POINT 6 17 0 6 17 0 

BABY 6 17 4 6 20 0 

OLD MAN ROCKS 1 6 17 112 6 20 81 

EGG 1 6 17 0 6 20 0 

OUTER SIGNAL 1 6 17 0 6 20 0 

INNER SIGNAL 6 17 0 6 20 47 

UNALASKA/CAPE SEDANKA 1 6 17 0 6 20 0 

UNALASKA/PRIEST ROCK 6 17 1 6 20 3 

UNALASKA/CAPE WISLOW 6 17 0 6 21 0 

UNALASKA/BISHOP POINT 1 6 17 285 6 21 186 

Unnamed rock between BISHOP & KOVRIZHKA 6 21 10 

UNALASKA/KOVRIZHKA 6 17 0 6 21 0 

UNALASKA/MAKUSHIN BAY 1 6 17 88 6 21 154 

UNALASKA/CAPE STARICHKOF 6 17 0 6 21 0 

UNALASKA/SPRAY CAPE 1 6 17 0 6 21 0 

UNALASKA/WHALEBONE CAPE 6 17 0 6 22 0 

UNALASKA/CAPE IZIGAN 1 7 9 306 6 17 329 6 20 304 

BOGOSLOF/FIRE ISLAND 1 1 1 6 23 320 6 17 358 6 21 405 

UMNAK/CAPE IDAK 6 17 0 7 5 0 

UMNAK/REINDEER POINT 6 17 0 

UMNAK/CAPE CHAGAK 6 17 0 

UMNAK/AGULIUK POINT 6 17 0 

UMNAK/CAPE ASLIK 1 1 6 17 73 

EMERALD 6 20 0 

POLIVNOI ROCK 1 6 17 42 6 20 96 

THE PILLARS 1 6 17 0 6 20 0 

OGCHUL 1 1 1 7 9 143 6 17 132 6 20 152 

VSEVIDOF 1 1 6 17 41 6 20 35 

SAMALGA 6 17 0 6 20 0 

ADUGAK 1 1 1 7 9 397 6 17 429 6 20 473 

Eastern Aleutian Is. Total 7 11 27 4,428 6,269 6,663 

 

Central Aleutian Islands 

ULIAGA 1 6 17 99 

KAGAMIL 1 1 6 17 0 

CHUGINADAK 1 1 6 17 79 

CARLISLE 1 1 6 17 0 

HERBERT 1 1 6 17 66 

31
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

YUNASKA 1 1 1 6 17 255 6 19 279 

CHAGULAK 1 1 6 17 13 

AMUKTA+ROCKS 1 1 6 17 18 6 19 56 

SEGUAM/FINCH POINT 1 1 6 19 0 

SEGUAM/SW RIP 1 1 6 19 31 

SEGUAM/SADDLERIDGE 1 1 1 6 28 724 6 19 668 

SEGUAM/TURF POINT 1 1 7 9 36 6 19 8 

SEGUAM/LAVA COVE 1 1 6 19 0 

SEGUAM/LAVA POINT 1 1 6 19 0 

SEGUAM/WHARF POINT 1 1 6 19 121 

AGLIGADAK 1 1 7 9 13 6 19 15 

AMLIA/EAST CAPE 1 1 6 19 55 

AMLIA/CAPE MISTY 6 19 72 

AMLIA/SVIECH. HARBOR 1 7 9 268 6 19 113 

TANADAK (AMLIA) 1 1 6 19 0 

SAGIGIK 1 1 6 19 10 

ATKA/NORTH CAPE 1 1 6 20 279 6 20 140 

ATKA/CAPE KOROVIN 1 1 6 20 0 6 20 30 

SALT 1 1 6 20 0 

AMTAGIS 6 19 0 

SAGCHUDAK 6 19 0 

KONIUJI/NORTH POINT 6 20 0 6 20 0 

KASATOCHI/NORTH POINT 1 1 1 6 28 542 6 20 610 6 28 613 

OGLODAK 1 6 20 111 6 19 58 

IKIGINAK 1 1 6 20 8 6 19 16 

FENIMORE 1 6 20 10 6 19 9 

TAGALAK 6 20 134 6 28 162 

CHUGUL 6 20 69 6 28 73 

ANAGAKSIK 1 1 6 20 52 6 28 14 

IGITKIN/SW POINT 6 20 0 6 20 0 

GREAT SITKIN 1 6 20 0 6 20 0 

LITTLE TANAGA STRAIT 1 1 6 28 15 

SILAK 6 20 32 6 28 88 

KAGALASKA 1 6 20 0 6 28 3 

ADAK/CAPE MOFFET 6 20 0 7 1 0 

ADAK/ARGONNE POINT 6 28 12 6 28 10 

ADAK/LAKE POINT 7 8 705 6 28 693 

ADAK/CAPE YAKAK 

1 1 1 

7 8 131 6 28 86 

ADAK/CRONE ISLAND 

KANAGA/N CAPE 1 6 20 13 6 28 2 

KANAGA/CAPE MIGA 1 6 20 0 6 28 0 

KANAGA/SHIP ROCK 1 1 7 6 247 6 28 331 

KANAGA/CAPE CHUNU 6 28 82 

BOBROF 6 20 21 

TANAGA/BUMPY POINT 1 6 28 33 

TANAGA/CAPE SASMIK 1 6 28 63 

32
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

ILAK 

GRAMP ROCK 1 1 1 7 6 583 

UGIDAK 1 1 

TAG 1 1 1 7 6 272 

OGLIUGA 

SKAGUL/S. POINT 

KAVALGA 1 1 

GARELOI 

UNALGA+DINKUM ROCKS 1 1 

ULAK/HASGOX POINT 1 1 1 7 8 602 

AMATIGNAK/KNOB POINT 1 7 1 0 

AMATIGNAK/NITROF POINT 1 1 6 28 38 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/POCHNOI 1 7 8 79 6 28 41 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/PETREL 6 28 43 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/TUMAN POINT 6 28 0 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/SW KNOB 6 28 0 

AMCHITKA/CAPE IVAKIN 1 1 6 28 0 7 1 0 

AMCHITKA/EAST CAPE 1 1 7 8 99 6 28 103 

AMCHITKA/OMEGA POINT 6 28 0 7 1 0 

AMCHITKA/ST. MAKARIUS 1 6 28 0 7 1 0 

AMCHITKA/COLUMN ROCK 1 1 7 5 90 

AMCHITKA/BIRD 7 1 0 

AMCHITKA/CHITKA POINT 7 1 0 

AYUGADAK 1 1 1 7 5 171 

LITTLE SITKIN 

RAT 1 

SEGULA/GULA POINT 6 28 1 

SEGULA/CHUGUL POINT 

SEA LION ROCK (KISKA) 1 

TANADAK (KISKA) 1 

TWIN ROCKS (KISKA) 

KISKA/SOUTH HEAD 6 28 0 

KISKA/GERTRUDE-BUKHTI 6 28 0 

KISKA/SOBAKA-VEGA 1 

KISKA/CAPE ST STEPHEN** 1 1 1 7 5 181 6 27 211 

KISKA/LIEF COVE** 1 1 1 7 5 205 6 27 164 

KISKA/WITCHCRAFT POINT 

KISKA/PILLAR ROCK 1 

KISKA/SIRIUS POINT 

KISKA/WOLF POINT 

Central Aleutian Is. Total 12 38 58 4,948 2,107 4,320 

 

Western Aleutian Islands 

BULDIR/EAST CAPE 6 28 0 

BULDIR/ROOKERY 

BULDIR/NW ROCKS 

1 1 1 

 

33
Table 1.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005* * 2006 * 2007 *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count M D Count 

INGENSTREM ROCKS 6 21 1 

SHEMYA 1 6 21 18 

NIZKI 6 21 0 

ALAID 1 1 7 2 184 6 21 86 

AGATTU/CAPE SABAK** 1 1 1 7 2 307 6 28 282 6 28 203 

AGATTU/GILLON POINT 1 1 1 7 2 306 6 28 308 

DAN'S ROCKS 6 21 0 

ATTU/MASSACRE BAY 1 6 21 0 

ATTU/CHIRIKOF POINT 1 6 21 30 

ATTU/CHICHAGOF POINT 1 6 21 13 

ATTU/KRESTA POINT 1 6 21 0 

ATTU/CAPE WRANGELL 1 1 7 8 274 6 21 260 

Western Aleutian Is. Total 4 4 10 1,071 998 203 

 

Eastern Bering Sea 

WALRUS 1 6 27 111 

 

Western Stock in Alaska Total 39 87 161 19,923 21,203 26,714 

Aerial survey only 26,136 

Notes regarding sites pooled (boxed) under the Rookery and Trend Sites columns: 

1) In SE Alaska, Forrester/Sea Lion Rk, Forrester/East Rk, Forrester/North, Forrester/C Horn Rk, 

and Forrester/Lowrie are often combined into a single Forrester Complex site. 

2) In the W Gulf of Alaska, Clubbing Rocks is often separated into Clubbing Rocks North and South. 

3) In the E Aleutians, Ugamak/Ugamak Bay, Ugamak/North and Ugamak/Round are often combined 

into a single Ugamak Complex site. 

4) In the E Aleutians, Rootok/North and Rootok/East are often combined into a single Rootok Island 

site. 

5) In the C Aleutians, Adak/Lake Point, Adak/Cape Yakak, Adak/Cape Moffet and Adak/Argonne 

Point are often combined into a single Adak Island site. 

6) In the W Aleutians, Buldir/East Cape, Buldir/Rookery, and Buldir/NW Rocks are often combined 

into a single Buldir Island site. 

34
Table 2.--Counts of Steller sea lion pups at rookery (1 = rookery; Rook.) and selected 

haulout sites in Alaska, June and July 2005-2007 (M = month, D = day). In 

2005, pups were counted from MF aerial photographs and during site visits 

(OS); in 2007, pups were counted from land-based overlooks (OV). Trend sites 

are those sites used for analyses of trends in survey counts and have been 

consistently surveyed since the 1970s or 1990s. * Site visit pup counts 

conducted in 2004 are used for these locations. For ‘boxed’ sites under rookery 

or trend site columns, see notes at end. 

Trend sites 2005-MF * 2005-OS * 2005 2007-OV *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count Max M D Count 

Southeast Alaska 

WHITE SISTERS 1 7 10 520 

BIALI ROCK 1 7 10 100 

HAZY 1 7 10 1,286 

FORRESTER/SEA LION RK 7 10 533 

FORRESTER/EAST RK 7 10 134 

FORRESTER/NORTH 7 10 951 

FORRESTER/C HORN RK 7 10 303 

FORRESTER/LOWRIE 

1 

 7 10 1,508 

GRAVES ROCK 1 7 10 175 

Southeast Alaska Total 5,510 

 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

SEAL ROCKS 1 1 1 6 21 508 7 2 556 556 

WOODED (FISH) 1 1 1 6 21 96 7 3 159 159 

CHISWELL ISLANDS 1 1 1 6 21 44 44 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska Total 648 715 759 

 

Central Gulf of Alaska 

OUTER (PYE) 1 1 6 21 104 104 

SUGARLOAF 1 1 1 6 21 559 559 

USHAGAT/SW 1 1 1 6 21 55 55 

SEA OTTER 1 6 30 1 1 

MARMOT 1 1 1 6 23 433 433 7 13 465 

TWOHEADED 1 1 6 23 16 16 

CHOWIET 1 1 1 6 23 432 6 28 309 432 

CHIRIKOF 1 1 1 6 23 123 123 

NAGAI ROCKS 1 6 23 31 31 

Central Gulf of Alaska Total 1,753 310 1,754 

35
Table 2.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005-MF * 2005-OS * 2005 2007-OV *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count Max. M D Count 

Western Gulf of Alaska 

LIGHTHOUSE ROCKS 1 1 6 23 11 11 

ATKINS 1 1 1 6 23 328 328 

CHERNABURA 1 1 1 7 9 153 153 

THE WHALEBACK 1 6 23 24 24 

JUDE 1 1 6 23 168 6 26 206 206 

SUSHILNOI ROCKS 6 25 12 12 

PINNACLE ROCK 1 1 1 6 25 643 643 

CLUBBING ROCKS 1 1 1 6 25 528 6 25 583 583 

SOUTH ROCKS 1 7 9 44 44 

Western Gulf of Alaska Total 1,911 789 2,004 

 

Eastern Aleutian Islands 

SEA LION ROCK (AMAK) 1 1 1 6 23 158 158 

UGAMAK/NORTH 6 25 404 6 23 426 426 

UGAMAK/UGAMAK BAY 6 25 239 6 24 298 298 6 23 313 

UGAMAK/ROUND 

1 1 1 

6 25 44 6 24 45 45 

AIKTAK 1 6 25 8 8 

ROOTOK/EAST 

ROOTOK/NORTH 1 6 22 1 1 

AKUN/BILLINGS HEAD* 1 1 1 85 85 7 3 119 

AKUTAN/CAPE MORGAN 1 1 1 6 25 485 6 22 657 657 

UNALASKA/CAPE IZIGAN 1 7 9 21 21 

BOGOSLOF/FIRE ISLAND 1 1 1 6 23 225 225 

OGCHUL 1 1 1 7 9 78 6 21 65 78 

ADUGAK 1 1 1 7 9 185 185 

Eastern Aleutian Islands Total 1,847 1,577 2,187 

 

Central Aleutian Islands 

YUNASKA* 1 1 1 145 145 

SEGUAM/SADDLERIDGE 1 1 1 6 28 530 530 

SEGUAM/TURF POINT 1 1 7 9 7 7 

AGLIGADAK 1 1 7 9 0 0 

AMLIA/SVIECH. HARBOR 1 7 9 28 28 

KASATOCHI/NORTH POINT 1 1 1 6 28 372 372 

ADAK/LAKE POINT 7 8 311 311 

ADAK/CAPE YAKAK 

1 1 1 

7 8 0 

KANAGA/SHIP ROCK 1 1 7 6 221 221 

GRAMP ROCK 1 1 1 7 6 387 387 

TAG 1 1 1 7 6 144 144 

ULAK/HASGOX POINT 1 1 1 7 8 338 338 

36
Table 2.-- Cont. 

Trend sites 2005-MF * 2005-OS * 2005 2007-OV *

Site Name and Region Rook. 1970s 1990s M D Count M D Count Max. M D Count 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/POCHNOI 1 7 8 16 16 

AMCHITKA/EAST CAPE 1 1 7 8 24 24 

AMCHITKA/COLUMN 

ROCK 1 1 7 5 44 44 

AYUGADAK 1 1 1 7 5 83 83 

KISKA/CAPE ST STEPHEN 1 1 1 7 5 82 82 6 27 86 

KISKA/LIEF COVE 1 1 1 7 5 115 115 6 27 48 

Central Aleutian Islands Total 2,702 145 2,847 

 

Western Aleutian Islands 

BULDIR/EAST CAPE 

BULDIR/ROOKERY 7 8 26 26 

BULDIR/NW ROCKS 

1 1 1 

 

ALAID 1 1 7 2 27 27 

AGATTU/CAPE SABAK 1 1 1 7 2 113 113 6 28 94 

AGATTU/GILLON POINT 1 1 1 7 2 157 157 

ATTU/CAPE WRANGELL 1 1 7 8 47 47 

Western Aleutian Islands Total 370 0 370 

 

Eastern Bering Sea 

WALRUS 1 6 27 27 7 26 29 29 

 

Western Stock in Alaska Total 9,950 

Notes regarding sites pooled (boxed) under the Rookery and Trend Sites columns: 

1) In SE Alaska, Forrester/Sea Lion Rk, Forrester/East Rk, Forrester/North, Forrester/C Horn Rk, 

and Forrester/Lowrie are often combined into a single Forrester Complex site. 

2) In the E Aleutians, Ugamak/Ugamak Bay, Ugamak/North and Ugamak/Round are often combined 

into a single Ugamak Complex site. 

3) In the E Aleutians, Rootok/North and Rootok/East are often combined into a single Rootok Island 

site. 

4) In the C Aleutians, Adak/Lake Point, Adak/Cape Yakak, Adak/Cape Moffet and Adak/Argonne 

Point are often combined into a single Adak Island site. 

5) In the W Aleutians, Buldir/East Cape, Buldir/Rookery, and Buldir/NW Rocks are often combined 

into a single Buldir Island site. 

37
Table 3.--Counts of adult and juvenile Steller sea lions from two independent counters at 

terrestrial sites in Alaska. Animals were counted off digital images and medium 

format photographs taken in June and July 2007. ‘Use' indicates whether the 

digital (D), medium format film (F), or both (B) counts were used in the 

analysis. 

Counter One Counter Two

Location Name Region Digital Film Digital Film Use 

Chiswell Islands EGOA 74 74 75 72 B 

Danger EGOA 120 114 123 118 B 

Glacier EGOA 521 529 541 532 B 

Granite Cape EGOA 25 24 24 25 B 

Procession Rocks EGOA 75 77 77 80 B 

Unnamed rock between Steep & Rabbit EGOA 91 90 88 91 B 

The Needle EGOA 143 143 145 147 B 

Aialik Cape EGOA 161 159 159 164 B 

Wooded (Fish) EGOA 287 274 285 281 B 

Cape Hinchinbrook EGOA 93 96 F 

Cape St. Elias EGOA 718 737 F 

Hook Point EGOA 130 133 F 

Perry EGOA 429 444 F 

Point Elrington EGOA 37 36 F 

Seal Rocks EGOA 807 798 F 

Chirikof CGOA 283 286 288 281 B 

Chowiet CGOA 434 419 427 410 B 

Flat CGOA 44 44 44 44 B 

Kodiak/Cape Barnabas CGOA 138 138 142 140 B 

Kodiak/Cape Ikolik CGOA 27 26 26 26 B 

Kodiak/Cape Ugat CGOA 240 249 253 251 B 

Kodiak/Gull Point CGOA 151 149 145 145 B 

Kodiak/Steep Cape CGOA 60 59 62 61 B 

Latax Rocks CGOA 116 112 116 117 B 

Marmot CGOA 540 546 546 550 B 

Outer (Pye) CGOA 260 263 271 264 B 

Perl CGOA 236 235 247 246 B 

Sea Otter CGOA 99 99 100 100 B 

Sitkinak/Cape Sitkinak CGOA 104 102 104 105 B 

Twoheaded CGOA 225 226 227 235 B 

Ushagat/SW CGOA 75 71 76 74 B 

Kilokak Rocks CGOA 196 200 D 

Nagai Rocks CGOA 444 453 D 

Shakun Rocks CGOA 114 111 D 

Sugarloaf CGOA 660 656 D 

Sutwik CGOA 127 127 D 

Takli CGOA 91 93 D 

Kodiak/Cape Chiniak CGOA 238 244 F 

Atkins WGOA 575 588 587 583 B 

Bird WGOA 97 96 95 98 B 

Castle Rock WGOA 38 38 37 37 B 

38
Table 3.--Cont.

Counter One Counter Two

Location Name Region Digital Film Digital Film Use 

Chernabura WGOA 1214 1220 1254 1225 B 

Clubbing Rocks South WGOA 707 691 674 677 B 

Jude WGOA 446 449 441 444 B 

Kupreanof Point WGOA 54 53 54 52 B 

Lighthouse Rocks WGOA 150 152 155 151 B 

Mitrofania WGOA 116 113 118 118 B 

Nagai/Mountain Point WGOA 147 141 143 143 B 

Olga Rocks NE WGOA 36 35 36 36 B 

Olga Rocks SW WGOA 94 94 95 95 B 

Sea Lion Rocks (Shumagins) WGOA 44 44 44 43 B 

Sushilnoi Rocks WGOA 283 292 283 296 B 

The Haystacks WGOA 41 40 41 41 B 

The Whaleback WGOA 83 81 85 83 B 

Unga/Acheredin Point WGOA 224 231 222 228 B 

Wosnesenski WGOA 107 113 108 113 B 

Caton WGOA 416 416 F 

Clubbing Rocks North WGOA 376 375 F 

Pinnacle Rock WGOA 1037 1050 F 

South Rocks WGOA 456 457 F 

Akun/Akun Bay EAI 18 18 18 18 B 

Adugak EAI 466 477 D 

Aiktak EAI 48 49 D 

Akun/Billings Head EAI 517 525 D 

Amak+Rocks EAI 209 207 D 

Bogoslof/Fire Island EAI 406 403 D 

Inner Signal EAI 39 41 D 

Kaligagan EAI 6 6 D 

Ogchul EAI 150 152 D 

Old Man Rocks EAI 79 80 D 

Polivnoi Rock EAI 94 97 D 

Rootok/North EAI 129 140 D 

Sea Lion Rock (Amak) EAI 385 384 D 

Tigalda/Rocks NE EAI 229 225 D 

Tigalda/South Side EAI 105 105 D 

Unalaska/Bishop Point EAI 183 185 D 

Unalaska/Cape Izigan EAI 292 308 D 

Unalaska/Makushin Bay EAI 153 155 D 

Unimak/Oksenof Point EAI 263 275 D 

Unnamed rock between Tigalda & 

Avatanak EAI 42 42 D 

Unnamed rock between Bishop & 

Kovrizhka EAI 10 10 D 

Vsevidof EAI 35 35 D 

Akutan/Cape Morgan EAI 1162 1168 F 

Akutan/Reef-Lava EAI 56 56 F 

Ugamak/North EAI 689 643 F 

Ugamak/Round EAI 169 170 F 

Ugamak/Ugamak Bay EAI 661 647 F 

39
Table 3.-- Cont.

Counter One Counter Two

Location Name Region Digital Film Digital Film Use 

Amukta+Rocks CAI 56 56 56 56 B 

Adak/Cape Yakak CAI 84 86 D 

Adak/Lake Point CAI 697 689 D 

Amlia/Cape Misty CAI 71 72 D 

Amlia/East Cape CAI 54 56 D 

Amlia/Sviech. Harbor CAI 111 113 D 

Anagaksik CAI 14 14 D 

Atka/Cape Korovin CAI 24 24 D 

Atka/North Cape CAI 138 142 D 

Chugul CAI 71 75 D 

Ikiginak CAI 16 16 D 

Kanaga/Cape Chunu CAI 81 82 D 

Kanaga/Ship Rock CAI 335 327 D 

Kasatochi/North Point CAI 616 609 D 

Little Tanaga Strait CAI 15 15 D 

Oglodak CAI 58 58 D 

Sagigik CAI 10 10 D 

Seguam/Saddleridge CAI 650 655 D 

Seguam/SW Rip CAI 31 31 D 

Seguam/Wharf Point CAI 118 119 D 

Silak CAI 88 87 D 

Tagalak CAI 159 165 D 

Tanaga/Bumpy Point CAI 33 32 D 

Tanaga/Cape Sasmik CAI 62 62 D 

Yunaska CAI 274 275 F 

40
Table 4.--Results of paired comparison t-tests for each possible pairing of non-pup counts 

from different counters and media (data in Table 3). 

Counter Media n t P 

One Film vs. Digital 45 0.160 0.88

Two Film vs. Digital 45 0.965 0.35

One vs. Two Digital 95 1.503 0.14

One vs. Two Film 62 1.611 0.12

41
42 

Table 5.--Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup) Steller sea lions observed at rookery and haulout 1970s trend sites (n = number of 

sites) in seven sub-areas of Alaska during June and July aerial surveys from 1976 to 2007. Kenai-Kiska consists of the 

combined counts in the central and western Gulf of Alaska and eastern and central Aleutian Islands. Overall percentage 

changes between various pairs of years are also shown. ND = no data. For western Aleutian Islands in 1985 (*), counts made in 1988 at Buldir were included. For eastern Gulf of Alaska in 1998 (**), counts made in 1999 were substituted for those sites not surveyed in 1998. Sub-area count totals for 2004-2007 (***) have been adjusted to account for film formatcount differences (see text). 

 Gulf of Alaska * Aleutian Islands * Stock 

89,364 111,075 

Western 

Eastern Central Western Eastern Central Western Kenai-Kiska in Alaska

Year n = 9 

1976-79 7,053 

n = 16 n = 9 n = 11 n = 38 n = 4 n = 74 n = 87 

24,678 8,311 19,743 36,632 14,658

1985* ND 54,738 

ND 22,754 

21,726 29,405 20,692 27,299 18,736 24,136 17,891 22,210 

1998** 2,110 

15,279 18,325 16,023 19,340 

2004*** 2,536 17,099 20,533 2007*** 2,505 

19,002 6,275 7,505 21,956 4,526

1990 5,444 7,050 3,915 3,801 7,988

1991 4,596 6,270 3,732 4,228 7,496 3,0831992 3,738 5,739 3,716 4,839 6,398 2,8691994 3,365 4,516 3,981 4,419 5,820 2,0351996 2,132 3,913 3,739 4,715 5,524 2,187

3,467 3,360 3,841 5,749 1,911 16,417 20,438

2000 1,975 3,180 2,840 3,840 5,419 1,0712002 2,500 3,366 3,221 3,956 5,480 817

2,944 3,512 4,707 5,936 898

2006*** 2,773 4,721

4,114

Percent change 

1976-79 to 1985 -23% -24% -62% -40% -69% -39% 

1976-79 to 1990/91 -23% -74% 

1985 to 1990 -63% -38% -49% -64% -58% 1991 to 2000 -57% -49% -24% -9% -28% -65% -30% -38% 

1976-79 to 2000 -72% -87% -66% -81% -85% -93% -83% -84% 

2000 to 2004 28% -7% 24% 23% 10% -16% 12% 12% 

2004 to 2006/07 -1% 17% 0%
Table 6.--Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup) Steller sea lions observed at 1990s rookery and haulout trend sites (n = number of 

sites) in seven sub-areas of Alaska during June-July aerial surveys from 1991 to 2007. Overall percentage changes between various pairs of years are also shown. * For eastern Gulf of Alaska in 1998, counts made in 1999 were substituted for those sites not surveyed in 1998. Sub-area count totals for 2004-2007 (**) have been adjusted to account for film format-count differences (see text). 

 Gulf of Alaska * Aleutian Islands * Western Stock 

Eastern Central Western Eastern Central Western Kenai-Kiska In Alaska 

Year n = 13 n = 33 n = 20 n = 27 n = 58 n = 10 n = 138 n = 161 

1991 4,812 7,872 5,338 5,283 8,656 4,601 27,149 36,562 

1992 3,981 7,358 5,112 5,707 7,633 4,199 25,811 33,991 1994 3,612 6,505 5,718 5,664 6,909 3,114 24,796 31,522 1996 2,450 5,400 5,356 5,967 6,368 3,334 23,091 28,875 

1998* 2,158 4,806 5,367 5,774 7,017 2,786 22,964 27,908 

2000 2,102 4,555 3,996 4,990 6,560 1,633 20,101 23,836 2002 2,615 4,594 4,617 5,261 6,547 1,196 21,018 24,829 

2004** 3,015 4,028 5,233 5,991 6,885 1,286 22,137 26,438 2006** 3,101 6,031

2007** 2,760 

Percent change 

1991 to 2000 -56% -42% -25% -6% -24% -65% -26% -35% 

2000 to 2004 43% -12% 31% 20% 5% -21% 10% 11% 

2004 to 2006/07 -8% 1%

43
Table 7.--Counts of adult and juvenile Steller sea lions at 1990s trend rookery and haulout sites in the range of the western stock in 

Alaska by sub-area, 1991-2007 (n = number of sites). Missed sites have been omitted from the entire sub-area time series to allow aggregation of counts at the largest number of consistently surveyed sites. A single haulout trend site was missed in thecentral and western Gulf of Alaska, and eastern Aleutian Islands during the 2007 survey. A single rookery trend site was missed in the western Aleutians Islands during the 2006 survey. The central Aleutian Island sub-area was divided into eastern (Uliaga through Tanaga) and western (Delarof Islands through Kiska) portions. Counts at sites within the CentralEast Aleutian Islands sub-area in 2006 and 2007 were averaged and summed. * Total does not include the western portion of the Central Aleutian Islands (Central-West). ** For eastern Gulf of Alaska in 1998, counts made in 1999 were substituted for 

those sites not surveyed in 1998. Sub-area count totals in 2004-2007 (***) have been adjusted to account for resolution differences between film formats (see text). 

 Gulf of Alaska * Aleutian Islands *

Eastern Central Western Eastern Central-East Central-West Western Total* 

Year n = 13 n = 32 n = 19 n = 26 n = 37 n = 21 n = 9 n = 136 

1991 4,812 7,741 5,166 5,253 3,989 4,667 4,014 30,975

1992 3,981 7,244 4,980 5,631 3,377 4,257 3,746 28,959

1994 3,612 6,364 5,534 5,575 3,431 3,478 2,769 27,2851996 2,450 5,272 5,155 5,861 2,906 3,462 3,022 24,666

1998** 2,158 4,736 5,131 5,700 3,673 3,344 2,450 23,848

2000 2,102 4,519 3,926 4,916 3,761 2,799 1,504 20,7282002 2,615 4,513 4,509 5,209 4,111 2,436 1,102 22,059

2004*** 3,015 3,997 5,217 5,876 4,323 2,562 1,182 23,6102006*** 3,101 5,961 9612007*** 2,760 4,517 5,632 6,033 3,647 23,550

Percent change 

1991 to 2000 -56% -42% -24% -6% -6% -40% -63% -33%

2000 to 2004 43% -12% 33% 20% 15% -8% -21% 14%

2004 to 2006/07 -8% 13% 8% 3% -16% -19% 0%

Missing Site Long Kak 

Umnak/ 

C. Aslik Buldir 

44
Table 8.--Counts of Steller sea lion non-pups (adults and juveniles) at principal western stock rookeries in Alaska during June and July 

surveys, 1976-2007. Counts from 1976 to 2002 were made from 35 mm slides or on-site counts (Walrus Island). Counts 

from 2004 to 2007 (except Akun-Billings Head) were made from vertically oriented medium format photographs and digital 

images; these are unadjusted counts and should not be used for trend analyses at individual sites because of differences in resolution between film formats (see text). Data for haulout sites (un-italicized site names) where significant number of pupswere counted are also shown. Italicized site names are rookeries whose counts are summed in Table 7. 

Sub-Area and Site 1976 1979 1985 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 1997 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

Seal Rocks 1,709 2,961 2,159 1,471 1,220 784 636 544 730 749 768 841 1,119 803 

Wooded (Fish) 878 1,333 1,232 1,350 1,005 648 502 330 396 396 523 619 282 

Chiswell Islands 1,106 456 408 383 240 180 115 54 97 72 71 74 

Central Gulf of Alaska 

Outer (Pye) 3,847 3,155 1,127 589 489 378 406 318 224 278 262 226 222 251 268 

Sugarloaf 5,226 4,374 2,991 2,164 1,416 1,216 1,186 976 741 624 748 706 736 667 733 662 

Ushagat 1,008 1,813 273 496 284 519 228 137 117 98 235 122 112 150 74 Marmot 9,862 8,450 4,983 2,331 1,766 1,458 1,581 1,091 1,102 780 726 671 848 703 686 551 

Chowiet 4,441 2,059 737 897 716 771 599 592 538 515 504 582 541 424 Chirikof 5,199 2,346 1,278 1,061 946 770 432 360 294 266 276 320 303 300 

Two-headed 1,615 1,240 479 268 382 330 364 216 308 378 254 227 266 228 

Nagai Rocks 657 798 233 196 245 362 331 180 204 312 228 230 330 449 

Western Gulf of Alaska Lighthouse Rocks 737 172 140 168 96 105 114 92 131 64 90 111 153 52 

Atkins 1,562 755 728 616 792 571 624 544 602 537 560 651 663 585 

Chernabura 1,437 1,504 487 544 442 650 459 676 422 729 624 496 496 828 1,228 

Jude 302 315 200 363 352 410 355 434 450 391 374 474 338 445 

Pinnacle Rock 1,745 2,731 1,588 1,366 1,305 1,048 1,092 977 1,026 1,007 864 868 1,034 1,011 1,167 1,057 

Clubbing Rocks 1,217 1,162 1,251 856 1,021 920 970 931 957 934 858 712 830 911 1,037 1,063 

The Whaleback 355 419 411 395 324 288 316 162 116 102 99 83 

South Rocks 1,004 892 332 290 232 342 345 402 408 161 262 528 320 457 

45
Table 8.--Co nt.

ds

Sub-Area and Site 1976 1979 1985 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 1997 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 

Eastern Aleutian Islan 

Sea Lion Rock (Amak) 2,076 410 344 286 300 329 480 590 452 444 258 507 456 385 Ugamak (and Round) 5,006 1,503 945 1,062 954 971 854 840 742 746 1,044 1,304 1,319 1,493 

Akun (Billings Head) 1,050 435 150 118 156 271 220 346 247 212 254 275 307 338 523 Akutan (Cape Morgan) 3,145 1,269 578 765 818 1,061 908 934 760 681 739 783 1,021 1,249 1,172 

Bogoslof 3,308 1,287 682 713 558 540 413 382 274 347 356 380 358 405 Ogchul 547 217 240 228 235 208 155 166 136 117 105 139 132 152 

Adugak 1,177 955 392 350 394 322 314 277 230 270 201 259 429 473 Amak 1,777 430 98 273 610 869 681 980 919 946 946 563 733 410 220 

Aiktak 0 0 0 12 60 63 93 52 52 102 92 75 101 111 43 

Central Aleutian Islan ds

Yunaska 2,249 1,071 466 391 398 394 461 340 210 241 276 260 255 279 

Seguam (Saddleridge) 4,018 2,942 602 833 684 696 658 553 586 570 666 923 668 

Kasatochi 2,166 1,170 659 641 466 376 288 330 350 390 529 667 610 613 

Adak (Lake Pt.-C. Yakak) 1,244 1,289 424 592 847 615 765 618 683 874 821 1,008 789 

Kanaga (Ship Rock) 168 314 0 92 93 175 146 164 156 242 229 331 

Gramp Rock 1,705 1,290 747 712 773 691 537 582 570 580 600 679 

Tag 1,740 944 590 478 440 370 309 320 370 301 279 242 

Ulak (Hasgox Point) 2,170 2,729 1,123 1,324 1,046 1,059 866 844 698 663 481 531 

Amchitka (Column Rocks) 1.943 728 197 233 194 188 137 112 92 71 85 

Ayugadak 1,463 702 389 401 324 313 285 281 179 146 182 152 

Kiska (Lief Cove) 4,953 1,715 510 528 506 357 359 341 284 272 174 170 Kiska (Cape St. Stephen) 2,202 1,351 464 564 380 248 233 258 224 152 126 210 Seguam (Turf Point) 101 146 0 0 82 84 58 8 

Agligadak* 993 514 132 274 231 125 8 73 40 48 82 61 15 

Amlia (Sviech. Harbor) 867 376 50 214 200 103 116 86 117 120 98 144 113 

Semisopochnoi* 556 443 372 363 166 143 144 106 72 84 

Amchitka (East Cape)* 639 1,005 20 106 150 162 89 122 148 101 186 178 103 

46
Table 8.--Cont. 

Sub-Area and Site 1976 

s

1979 1985 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1996 1997 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 

Western Aleutian Islan d

Buldir** 5,024 1,396 1,058 587 454 344 312 336 129 94 108 

Agattu (Cape Sabak) 1,428 1,304 961 1,001 826 480 307 325 282 

Agattu (Gillon Point) 7,159 3,130 2,486 670 773 508 594 481 306 258 374 308 Attu (Cape Wrangell) 4,400 736 754 839 721 584 310 264 257 260 

Alaid 2,475 429 398 534 222 280 268 156 158 125 86 

Eastern Bering Sea 

Walrus*** 599 473 192 130 111 

* Sites formerly identified as rookeries but without a minimum of 50 pups born since 1975 ** 1988 Buldir count used for 1985 *** Walrus: Count of 599 listed for 1979 actually from 1982; count of 473 listed for 1989 actually from 1988, and count of 111 listed 

for 2006 actually from 2005. 

47
Table 9.--Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup) Steller sea lions observed at rookery (A) and haulout (B) 1990s trend sites in subareas of Alaska during June-July aerial surveys from 1991 to 2007. Rookeries and haulouts are noted in Table 1. Sub-area 

count totals for 2004-2007 (*) have been adjusted to account for film format-count differences (see text). Counts at sites 

within the Central-East Aleutian Islands sub-area in 2006 and 2007 were averaged and summed. 

A. Rookeries Gulf of Alaska Kenai to Western Stock Western Stock in AK 

Year Eastern Central Western Kiska in Alaska No Central-West AI 

1991 2,953 5,056 3,765 18,526 24,900 20,611 

1992 2,030 4,908 3,761 17,787 23,102 19,417 

1994 1,464 3,705 3,670 16,011 20,128 17,007 

1996 1,161 3,223 3,498 15,009 18,798 15,723 

1998 1,139 2,628 3,529 13,372 16,738 13,965 

2000 1,199 2,517 3,068 12,753 15,177 12,842 

2002 1,261 2,828 3,378 13,924 16,108 14,101 

2004* 1,384 2,445 3,841 14,979 17,388 15,290 2006* 1,743 2007* 1,116 2,194 4,365 15,486 

A. Rookeries Aleutian Islands 

Year Eastern Central Central-East Central-West Western Western

1991 3,516 6,189 2,487 3,702 3,421 2,834

1992 3,713 5,405 2,174 3,232 3,285 2,8311994 3,513 5,122 2,347 2,776 2,653 2,3081996 3,538 4,750 1,987 2,763 2,628 2,3161998 2,785 4,430 1,993 2,437 2,227 1,8912000 2,731 4,437 2,231 2,206 1,225 1,0962002 3,272 4,447 2,534 1,913 923 829

2004* 3,725 4,968 2,975 1,994 1,025 921

2006* 4,116 819

2007* 4,434 2,559

Missing Site Buldir

48
Table 9.--Cont. 

B. Haulouts Gulf of Alaska Kenai to Western Stock 

Year Eastern Central Central Western Western Kiska In Alaska 

1991 1,859 2,816 2,685 1,573 1,401 8,623 11,662 

1992 1,951 2,450 2,336 1,351 1,219 8,024 10,889 1994 2,148 2,800 2,659 2,048 1,864 8,786 11,395 1996 1,289 2,177 2,049 1,858 1,657 8,082 10,077 1998 1,019 2,179 2,109 1,838 1,602 9,593 11,171 2000 903 2,038 2,002 928 858 7,348 8,659 2002 1,354 1,766 1,686 1,239 1,131 7,094 8,721 

2004* 1,631 1,583 1,552 1,392 1,376 7,158 9,050 2006* 1,358 2007* 1,644 2,323 1,267

Missing Site Long Kak

B. Haulouts Aleutian Islands Western Stock in AK 

Year Eastern Eastern Central Central-East Central-West Western No Central-West AI 

1991 1,767 1,737 2,467 1,502 965 1,180 10,364 

1992 1,994 1,918 2,228 1,203 1,025 915 9,542 

1994 2,151 2,062 1,786 1,084 702 461 10,278 1996 2,429 2,323 1,618 919 699 706 8,943 1998 2,989 2,915 2,587 1,680 907 559 9,884 2000 2,259 2,185 2,123 1,530 593 408 7,886 2002 1,989 1,938 2,100 1,577 523 273 7,958 

2004* 2,265 2,151 1,917 1,348 569 261 8,320 2006* 1,915 1,844 1422007* 1,600 1,088 8,064 

Missing Site 

Umnak

C.Aslik

49
Table 10.--Counts of Steller sea lion pups at principal western stock rookeries in Alaska during June and July surveys, 1978-2007. 

Count-type refers to method of counting pups: OS = On-site: pups counted after adults moved from area, from a skiff/ship nearby, or from an observation point on-land; MF=Aerial survey: pups counted from medium format photographs or high 

resolution digital (2007 only) images taken vertically over rookery sites. Counts at italicized rookeries that are highlightedin bold were used for time period/sub-area summaries in Table 9. Data for haulout sites where significant numbers of pups 

have been counted are also shown (*). ** Sites formerly identified as rookeries but without a minimum of 50 pups born 

since 1978. 

Sub-Area and Rookery 1978 1979 1982 1984 1985 1986 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 

Count type OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS MF 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

Seal Rocks 545 553 571 657 566 598 352 487 491 Wooded (Fish) 29 514

ds

t

d*

s*

305 232 120 

Chiswell Islan 

Central Gulf of Alaska 

Outer (Pye) 431 557 363 180 181 888 119 104 

Sugarloaf 

ga

5,021 2,109 1,683 1,000 958 673 541 

Usha 

Marmot 6,140 6,741 5751 4,381 2,199 1,611 986 804 632 762 759 

Chowiet 4,670 1,731 820 343 636 625 

Chirikof 1,573 1,476 709 607 656 325 344 Two-heade Nagai Rock 

Western Gulf of Alaska 

Lighthouse Rocks 250 Atkins 4,538 2,093 485 324 2,750 1,072 433 366 

Chernabura 646 486 200 379 197 211 139 

Jude 

Pinnacle Rock 2,748 2,013 794 773 652 

Clubbing Rocks 1,419 1,394 433 547 

The Whaleback* 

South Rocks* 44 

50
Table 10.--Co nt.

Sub-Area and Rookery 1978 1979 1982 1984 1985 1986 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 

Count type OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS MF 

Eastern Aleutian Islands 

Sea Lion Rock (Am ak)

Ugamak (and Round) 1,635 1,386 847 813 574 706 589 

Akun (Billings Head) 60 63 64 51 69 

Akutan (Cape Morgan) 1,130 442 558 631 

Bogoslof 914 1,109 358 461 501 322 302 282 281 

Ogchul 172 94 

Adugak 844 262 180 

Amak* 

Aiktak* 

Central Aleutian Islands 

Yunaska 752 1,026 230 217 192 

Seguam (Saddleridge) 2,475 2,635 529 684 444 463 

Kasatochi 213 892 178 215 268 

Adak (Lake Point-Cape Yakak) 558 137 327 

Kanaga (Ship Rock) 

Gramp Rock 909 448 425 

Tag 703 357 234 

Ulak (Hasgox Point) 204 1,236 790 638 

Amchitka (Column Rocks) 135 148 114 

Ayugadak 22 329 163 142 

Kiska (Lief Cove) 476 882 293 221 233 

Kiska (Cape St. Stephen) 137 258 212 120 

Seguam (Turf Point)* 

Agligadak** 0 

Amlia (Sviechnikof Harbor)* 26 

Semisopochnoi** 25 21 

Amchitka (East Cape)** 6 

51
Table 10.--Cont.

Sub-Area and Rookery 1978 1979 1982 1984 1985 1986 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 

Count type OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS MF 

Western Aleutian Islands 

Buldir 1,142 494 381 120 120 

Agattu (Cape Sabak) 379 

Agattu (Gillon Point) 907 1,127 258 

Attu (Cape Wrangell) 

id*

6 42 222 

Ala 

Eastern Bering Sea 

Walrus 334 63 61 35 

Sub-Area and Rookery 1998 1998 1999 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2007 

Count type OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS 

Eastern Gulf of Alaska 

Seal Rocks 542 542 522 500 475 543 573 556 508 

Wooded (Fish) 147 140 149 97 85 86 173 123 159 96 

Chiswell Islands 58 54 45 52 44 

Central Gulf of Alaska 

Outer (Pye) 113 108 108 148 104 58 92 59 104 

Sugarloaf 703 673 645 490 419 444 488 559 

Ushagat 54 24 42 43 55 55 

Marmot 642 624 514 466 515 505 474 494 433 465 

Chowiet 234 278 387 368 309 432 

Chirikof 184 187 90 225 189 123 

Two-headed* 16 8 20 20 28 1 16 

Nagai Rocks* 31 19 26 22 23 31 

52
Table 10.--Cont.

Sub-Area and Rookery 1998 1998 1999 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2007 

Count type OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS 

Western Gulf of Alaska 

Lighthouse Rocks 5 4 7 4 5 11 

Atkins 352 262 172 224 274 128 266 75 328 

Chernabura 54 92 138 115 82 115 153 

Jude 182 119 130 61 187 206 168 

Pinnacle Rock 639 634 501 769 466 663 643 

Clubbing Rocks 448 490 417 566 583 528 

The Whaleback* 12 13 16 16 22 23 24 

South Rocks* 36 44 

Eastern Aleutian Islands 

Sea Lion Rock (Amak) 134 161 160 138 185 177 158 

Ugamak (and Round) 558 570 686 541 769 687 

Akun (Billings Head) 56 41 55 85 119 

Akutan (Cape Morgan) 505 508 497 657 485 

Bogoslof 220 249 256 180 219 278 217 225 

Ogchul 42 47 57 53 69 65 78 

Adugak 135 153 172 160 151 185 185 

Amak* 0 3 1 

Aiktak* 21 10 5 7 8 

Central Aleutian Islands 

Yunaska 161 136 96 145 145 75 

Seguam (Saddleridge) 479 468 410 517 506 530 

Kasatochi 247 258 302 300 354 372 

Adak (Lake Point-Cape Yakak) 340 395 363 370 311 

Kanaga (Ship Rock) 92 113 221 

Gramp Rock 456 430 444 432 439 387 

Tag 238 155 153 148 150 144 

Ulak (Hasgox Point) 521 332 331 322 257 338 

53
Table 10.--Cont.

Sub-Area and Rookery 1998 1998 1999 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2003 2004 2004 2005 2005 2007 

Count type OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS MF OS OS MF OS MF OS 

Amchitka (Column Rocks) 70 52 43 45 44 

Ayugadak 89 90 85 66 83 

Kiska (Lief Cove) 179 158 136 101 115 48 

Kiska (Cape St. Stephen) 54 71 62 75 82 86 

Seguam (Turf Point)* 

**

30 24 23 15 7 

Agligadak 0 2 0 

Amlia (Sviechnikof Harbor)* 13 22 28 28 Semisopochnoi** 6 2 24 19 16 

Amchitka (East Cape)** 9 5 0 16 23 24 

Western Aleutian Islands 

Buldir 122 42 42 26 

Agattu (Cape Sabak) 314 212 159 113 94 

Agattu (Gillon Point) 213 159 174 157 

Attu (Cape Wrangell) 154 75 47 47 

Alaid* 27 

Eastern Bering Sea 

Walrus 39 29 27 

54
Table 11.--Counts of Steller sea lion pups at selected rookeries (italicized in Table 8) in seven sub-areas of the western stock in Alaska 

from 1978-1979 to 2005-2007. The number of rookeries in each sub-area (n) selected for analysis is indicated. The maximum count during each period at the selected rookeries was used (bold numbers in Table 8). Blank cells indicate incomplete counts in the period and sub-area. Percentage change in counts between periods is shown. 

Western

Gulf of Alaska Aleutian Islands Kenai to Stock 

Eastern Central Western Eastern Central Western Kiska in AK 

Years n = 2 n = 5 n = 4 n = 5 n = 11* n = 4 n = 25 n = 31 

1978-1979 574 18,893 9,351

1985-1989 10,254 5,879 4,778 9,382 30,114

1990-1992 4,904 1,923 2,115 3,568 12,510

1994 903 2,831 1,662 1,756 3,109 9,358

1997 611 9791998 689 1,876 1,493 1,474 2,834 803 7,677 9,169

2001-2002 586 1,721 1,671 1,561 2,612 488 7,565 8,639

2003-2004 716 1,609 1,577 1,731

2005-2007 715 1,683 1,707 1,955 2,555 343 7,900 8,958

Percent Change 

1978-79 to 2001-2002 2% -91% -82%

1985-89 to 2001-2002 -83% -72% -67% -72% -75%1990-92 to 2001-2002 -65% -13% -26% -27% -40%

1998 to 2001-2002 -15% -8% 12% 6% -8% -39% -1% -6%

2001-2002 to 2005-2007 22% -2% 2% 25% -2% -30% 4% 4%

* 1985-89 CAI count does not include Amchitka/Column Rocks (n = 10); 

 2005-2007 CAI count includes 2004 count from Yunaska. 

55
Figure 1.--Terrestrial rookery and haulout sites in the range of the eastern and western stocks of Steller sea lion in Alaska used in the 

analysis of population trends. Boundaries of the eastern, central, and western sub-areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and 

Aleutian Islands (AI), as well as the Kenai-Kiska area are shown. The eastern and western stocks breed on rookeries east and west of 144°W, respectively. 

56
~2.5 m 

Figure 2.--Detail of digital photograph (taken at an altitude of 622 ft) of Steller sea lions hauled out on Atkins Island, 14 June 2007. 

Colored dots were used to individually count adult male (red), adult female (pink), sub-adult male (blue; none in photo), juvenile (yellow; none in photo), and newborn (pups: green) sea lions; counts of each sex/age class were tallied by the photo management software. 

57
A. Gulf of Alaska

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Eastern

Central

Western

B. Aleutian Islands

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Eastern

Central

Western

C. Kenai-Kiska and Alaska Western Stock

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Kenai-Kiska

AK Western Stock

Year

Number of Adult and Juvenile Steller Sea Lions

Figure 3.--Number of adult and juvenile Steller sea lions on 1970s trend sites (Table 1) 

from the late 1970s through 2007 (data in Table 5) in the Gulf of Alaska (A), 

Aleutian Islands (B), Kenai-Kiska area (C) and throughout the range of the 

western stock in Alaska. Summary counts for the late 1970s in C are plotted 

at year = 1977.

58
Figure 4.--Number of adult and juvenile Steller sea lions on 1990s trend sites (Table 1) from 1991 through 2007 (data in Tables 6 

and 7) in the Gulf of Alaska (A), Eastern and Central (including Central-East) Aleutian Islands (B), Western and CentralWest Aleutian Islands (C), and in the range of the western stock in Alaska (D). Central-East subarea counts by site in 2006 and 2007 were averaged and the total is plotted at year = 2006.5.

C. Western and Central-West Aleutian Islands

0

500

5,0004,5004,0003,5003,0002,5002,0001,5001,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

D. Western Stock in Alaska

0

5,000

40,00035,00030,00025,00020,00015,00010,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

AK Western StockAK Western Stock (No Central-West AI)Kenai-Kiska

Central-WestWesternWestern (No Buldir)

Year

59

A. Gulf of Alaska

0

8,0007,0006,0005,0004,0003,0002,0001,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

B. Eastern and Central Aleutian Islands (All and East)

0

9,0008,0007,0006,0005,0004,0003,0002,0001,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

EasternEastern (No C. Aslik)CentralCentral-East (No Chagulak)

EasternCentralCentral (No Long)WesternWestern (No Kak)

Number of Adult and Juvenile Steller Sea Lions
Gulf of Alaska Aleutian Islands Western Stock in AK

Figure 5.--Number of adult and 

juvenile Steller sea lions on 1990s trend rookeries and haulouts (Table 1) from 1991 through 2007 (data in Table 7) in the Gulf of Alaska (A-C), Aleutian Islands (D-G), and in the range of the western stock in Alaska (H and I). Legend in A applies to A-G; legend in H applies to I.

D. Eastern

0

5,0004,0003,0002,0001,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

A. Eastern

0

500

3,5003,0002,5002,0001,5001,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

H. Rookeries

30,00025,00020,00015,00010,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

AK Western StockAK Western Stock (No Central-West AI) Rookeries Kenai-Kiska

Haulouts

Number of Adult and Juvenile Steller Sea Lions E. Central-East 0 500 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,0001988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 B. Central 0 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,0001988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 I. Haulouts 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 12,000 11,000 10,0001988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Year C. Western

0

5,0004,0003,0002,0001,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

F. Central-West

0

500

4,0003,5003,0002,5002,0001,5001,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

Year G. Western

0

500

3,0002,5002,0001,5001,000

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

Year

60
A. Gulf of Alaska

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Eastern

Central

Western

B. Aleutian Islands

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Number of Steller sea lion pups

C. Kenai-Kiska and Alaska Western Stock

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Kenai to Kiska

Western Stock in AK

Year

Figure 6.--Number of Steller sea lion pups counted on trend rookeries (Table 10) from 

the late 1970s through 2007 (data in Table 9) in the Gulf of Alaska (A), 

Aleutian Islands (B), Kenai-Kiska area (C) and throughout the range of the 

western stock in Alaska. Pup counts for time periods are plotted at the 

average year. 

61 
Appendix. Memorandum to the Record by Fritz et al. (25 September 2006). 

United States Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center 

National Marine Mammal Laboratory 

7600 Sand Point Way NE 

Seattle WA 98115 

206-526-4246 FAX: 206-526-6615 

25 September 2006 F/AKC3:lwf 

 

Memorandum For: The Record 

From: Lowell Fritz and Tom Gelatt, NMML 

 Morgan Lynn and Wayne Perryman, SWFSC 

 

Subject: Survey of Adult and Juvenile Steller Sea Lions, June 2006 

An aerial survey to assess trends in numbers of western stock (wDPS) adult and juvenile 

Steller sea lions in Alaska (from Cape St. Elias at 145°W to Attu Island at 172°E) was 

conducted by NMFS from 14-30 June 2006. As in 2004 (Fritz and Stinchcomb 2005), 

the 2006 survey was conducted using medium format, vertical photogrammetric 

techniques by NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Aerial surveys for non-pups 

are conducted in mid-late June, when the greatest proportion of adults is onshore to give 

birth and breed. The 2006 survey, however, did not result in a complete assessment of 

numbers at trend sites across the Alaskan range of the wDPS of Steller sea lion (Tables 1, 

2, and 3). Trend sites are those that have been consistently surveyed since the mid-1970s 

(70s Trend Sites) or 1990 (90s Trend Sites). In 2006, we were able to survey only 53 of 

87 70s Trend Sites, and only 106 of 161 90s Trend Sites because: 1) the start of the 

survey was delayed because of a court-ordered cessation (beginning 26 May 2006) of all 

Steller sea lion research authorized by permits issued by NMFS, and 2) bad weather (e.g., 

low clouds, fog) reduced the number of days on which it was possible to conduct a 

survey. Between 2000 and 2004, counts of non-pups at wDPS trend sites in Alaska 

increased 11-12%, and this was the first increase observed across 3 surveys (2000, 2002, 

and 2004) since the late 1970s. Because of the incomplete nature of the 2006 aerial 

survey, there is no new information to update the non-pup abundance trend for the entire 

western stock of Steller sea lions in Alaska. 

Although not all wDPS 90s trend sites in Alaska were surveyed in 2006, all 90s trend 

sites were surveyed in two of the six Alaskan sub-areas: 

• eastern Gulf of Alaska (E GULF: 145°-150°W; N=13) and 

• eastern Aleutian Islands (E ALEU: 163°-169°W; N=27) (Tables 1 and 3). 

All 90s trend sites except one were surveyed in two other sub-areas: 

• western Gulf of Alaska (W GULF: 157°-163°W; N=19 of 20) and 

62
• western Aleutian Islands (W ALEU: 172°-176° E; N=9 of 10) (Tables 1 and 3). 

These complete or nearly complete sub-area surveys in 2006 convey some information 

about local trends (Figure 1). Counts of non-pup sea lions on 90s trend sites in the E 

GULF, E ALEU, and W GULF were essentially unchanged between 2004 and 2006. For 

each of these 3 sub-areas, counts had increased considerably (20-43%) between 2000 and 

2004. Thus, the 2006 count indicates that the population of adult and juvenile Steller sea 

lions in these areas may have stabilized. In the W ALEU, non-pup counts on the 9 trend 

sites surveyed in 2006 declined 19% from 2004, suggesting that the decline observed in 

the W ALEU sub-area may be continuing. 

 

Literature Cited 

Fritz, L. W., and C. Stinchcomb. 2005. Aerial, ship, and land-based surveys of Steller 

sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the western stock in Alaska, June and July 2003 

and 2004. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-153, 56 p. 

63
Appendix Table 1. Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup Steller sea lions) at TREND 

ROOKERIES AND HAUL-OUTS from medium-format aerial photos taken in 

June 2004 and June 2006. Trend Sites surveyed regularly since the 1970s, 1990s, 

and those that are rookeries are noted. Rookeries labelled Y* are 'new' rookeries; 

originally not included as rookeries but have had 50 pups since 1975. Rookeries 

labelled N* are listed as critical habitat rookeries, but no record of 50 pups since 

1975. 

SITENAME REGION 

70s 

TREND 

90s 

TREND Rookery 2004 2006 

CAPE ST. ELIAS E GULF X X 318 414 

CAPE HINCHINBROOK E GULF X 496 237 

SEAL ROCKS E GULF X X Y 841 1,119 

WOODED (FISH) E GULF X X Y 523 619 

GLACIER E GULF X X 620 466 

THE NEEDLE E GULF X X 123 127 

POINT ELRINGTON E GULF X X 132 58 

CAPE PUGET E GULF X 0 0 

CAPE FAIRFIELD E GULF X 0 0 

RUGGED E GULF X X 0 0 

AIALIK CAPE E GULF X 1 0 

CHISWELL ISLANDS E GULF X X Y* 72 71 

SEAL ROCKS (KENAI) E GULF X X 3 4 

OUTER (PYE) C GULF X Y 222 251 

GORE POINT C GULF X 0 0 

EAST CHUGACH C GULF X 0 

PERL C GULF X 49 

NAGAHUT ROCKS C GULF X 1 

ELIZABETH/CAPE ELIZABETH C GULF X 28 

SUGARLOAF C GULF X X Y 667 733 

USHAGAT/NW C GULF X X 3 0 

USHAGAT/SW C GULF X X Y* 101 141 

USHAGAT/ROCKS SOUTH C GULF X X 8 9 

LATAX ROCKS C GULF X X 56 

SEA OTTER C GULF X 127 

RK NEAR SEA OTTER C GULF X 10 

AFOGNAK/TONKI CAPE C GULF X 0 

SEA LION ROCKS (MARMOT) C GULF X X 2 

MARMOT C GULF X X Y 703 686 

LONG ISLAND C GULF X X 32 

KODIAK/CAPE CHINIAK C GULF X X 87 

UGAK C GULF X 0 

KODIAK/GULL POINT C GULF X 109 

KODIAK/CAPE BARNABAS C GULF X X 0 

TWOHEADED C GULF X X 266 

SITKINAK/CAPE SITKINAK C GULF X X 80 

KODIAK/CAPE UGAT C GULF X 2 167 

KODIAK/STEEP CAPE C GULF X 0 14 

SHAKUN ROCKS C GULF X 104 67 

64
Appendix Table 1 (continued) 

SITENAME REGION 

70s 

TREND 

90s 

TREND Rookery 2004 2006 

TAKLI C GULF X 85 157 

PUALE BAY C GULF X 58 2 

UGAIUSHAK C GULF X X 0 0 

SUTWIK C GULF X X 206 114 

CHOWIET C GULF X X Y 541 

CHIRIKOF C GULF X X Y 303 

NAGAI ROCKS C GULF X 330 

CHERNABURA W GULF X X Y 828 

LIGHTHOUSE ROCKS W GULF X Y* 111 153 

KAK W GULF X 17 24 

MITROFANIA W GULF X 182 103 

SPITZ W GULF X X 1 0 

KUPREANOF POINT W GULF X 53 116 

CASTLE ROCK W GULF X X 70 15 

ATKINS W GULF X X Y 651 663 

THE HAYSTACKS W GULF X 38 1 

THE WHALEBACK W GULF X 102 99 

NAGAI/MOUNTAIN POINT W GULF X X 80 56 

SEA LION ROCKS 

(SHUMAGINS) W GULF X X 36 142 

UNGA/ACHEREDIN POINT W GULF X 264 152 

JUDE W GULF X Y* 474 338 

PINNACLE ROCK W GULF X X Y 1,011 1,167 

CLUBBING ROCKS W GULF X X Y 911 1,037 

CHERNI W GULF X 0 0 

SOUTH ROCKS W GULF X 528 320 

BIRD W GULF X X 57 62 

ROCK W GULF X 17 0 

UNIMAK/CAPE SARICHEF E ALEU X 250 6 

AMAK+ROCKS E ALEU X X 733 410 

SEA LION ROCK (AMAK) E ALEU X X Y 456 447 

UGAMAK COMPLEX E ALEU X X Y 1,304 1,319 

AIKTAK E ALEU X 101 111 

TIGALDA/ROCKS NE E ALEU X 141 202 

TIGALDA/SOUTH SIDE E ALEU X 46 83 

ROOTOK E ALEU X 96 96 

TANGINAK E ALEU X 4 6 

AKUN/BILLINGS HEAD E ALEU X X Y 307 338 

AKUTAN/REEF-LAVA E ALEU X X 119 103 

AKUTAN/CAPE MORGAN E ALEU X X Y 1,021 1,249 

OLD MAN ROCKS E ALEU X 71 112 

EGG E ALEU X 5 0 

OUTER SIGNAL E ALEU X 0 0 

UNALASKA/CAPE SEDANKA E ALEU X 0 0 

UNALASKA/BISHOP POINT E ALEU X 265 285 

UNALASKA/MAKUSHIN BAY E ALEU X 20 28 

UNALASKA/SPRAY CAPE E ALEU X 0 0 

65
Appendix Table 1 (eontinued) 

SITENAME REGION 

70s 

TREND 

90s 

TREND Rookery 2004 2006 

UNALASKA/CAPE IZIGAN E ALEU X 238 329 

BOGOSLOF/FIRE ISLAND E ALEU X X Y 380 358 

UMNAK/CAPE ASLIK E ALEU X X 119 73 

POLIVNOI ROCK E ALEU X 91 42 

THE PILLARS E ALEU X 4 0 

OGCHUL E ALEU X X Y 139 132 

VSEVIDOF E ALEU X X 48 41 

ADUGAK E ALEU X X Y 259 429 

ULIAGA C ALEU X 0 99 

KAGAMIL C ALEU X X 1 0 

CHUGINADAK C ALEU X X 129 79 

CARLISLE C ALEU X X 0 0 

HERBERT C ALEU X X 38 66 

YUNASKA C ALEU X X Y 260 255 

CHAGULAK C ALEU X X 0 13 

AMUKTA+ROCKS C ALEU X X 2 18 

SEGUAM/FINCH POINT C ALEU X X 2 

SEGUAM/SW RIP C ALEU X X 40 

SEGUAM/SADDLERIDGE C ALEU X X Y 923 

SEGUAM/TURF POINT C ALEU X X 58 

SEGUAM/LAVA COVE C ALEU X X 0 

SEGUAM/LAVA POINT C ALEU X X 5 

SEGUAM/WHARF POINT C ALEU X X 90 

AGLIGADAK C ALEU X X N* 61 

AMLIA/EAST CAPE C ALEU X X 34 

AMLIA/SVIECH. HARBOR C ALEU X 144 

TANADAK (AMLIA) C ALEU X X 1 

SAGIGIK C ALEU X X 30 

ATKA/NORTH CAPE C ALEU X X 383 279 

ATKA/CAPE KOROVIN C ALEU X X 4 0 

SALT C ALEU X X 0 

KASATOCHI/NORTH POINT C ALEU X X Y 667 610 

OGLODAK C ALEU X 86 111 

IKIGINAK C ALEU X X 0 8 

FENIMORE C ALEU X 30 10 

ANAGAKSIK C ALEU X X 2 52 

GREAT SITKIN C ALEU X 0 0 

LITTLE TANAGA STRAIT C ALEU X X 49 

KAGALASKA C ALEU X 48 0 

ADAK C ALEU X X Y 1,008 

KANAGA/N CAPE C ALEU X 7 13 

KANAGA/CAPE MIGA C ALEU X 0 0 

KANAGA/SHIP ROCK C ALEU X Y* 229 

TANAGA/BUMPY POINT C ALEU X 33 

TANAGA/CAPE SASMIK C ALEU X 122 

GRAMP ROCK C ALEU X X Y 679 

UGIDAK C ALEU X X 25 

66
Appendix Table 1 (continued) 

SITENAME REGION 

70s 

TREND 

90s 

TREND Rookery 2004 2006 

TAG C ALEU X X Y 242 

KAVALGA C ALEU X X 56 

UNALGA+DINKUM ROCKS C ALEU X X 19 

ULAK/HASGOX POINT C ALEU X X Y 531 

AMATIGNAK/KNOB POINT C ALEU X 1 

AMATIGNAK/NITROF POINT C ALEU X X 76 38 

SEMISOPOCHNOI/POCHNOI C ALEU X N* 55 41 

AMCHITKA/CAPE IVAKIN C ALEU X X 0 0 

AMCHITKA/EAST CAPE C ALEU X X N* 178 103 

AMCHITKA/ST. MAKARIUS C ALEU X 0 0 

AMCHITKA/COLUMN ROCK C ALEU X Y 85 

AYUGADAK C ALEU X X Y 152 

RAT C ALEU X 45 

SEA LION ROCK (KISKA) C ALEU X 0 

TANADAK (KISKA) C ALEU X 34 

KISKA/SOBAKA-VEGA C ALEU X 101 

KISKA/CAPE ST STEPHEN C ALEU X X Y 210 

KISKA/LIEF COVE C ALEU X X Y 170 

KISKA/PILLAR ROCK C ALEU X 0 

BULDIR W ALEU X X Y 108 

SHEMYA W ALEU X 17 18 

ALAID W ALEU X X 125 86 

AGATTU/CAPE SABAK W ALEU X X Y 325 282 

AGATTU/GILLON POINT W ALEU X X Y 374 308 

ATTU/MASSACRE BAY W ALEU X 0 0 

ATTU/CHIRIKOF POINT W ALEU X 75 30 

ATTU/CHICHAGOF POINT W ALEU X 54 13 

ATTU/KRESTA POINT W ALEU X 0 0 

ATTU/CAPE WRANGELL W ALEU X Y 257 260 

90s Trend Site Counts 27,437 18,895 

Other Site Counts (Table 2) 1,600 2,394 

Total Count 29,037 21,289 

67
Appendix Table 2. Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup Steller sea lions) at NON-TREND HAULOUTS from medium-format aerial photos taken in June 2004 and June 2006. 

A. Gulf of Alaska B. Aleutian Islands 

EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA EASTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

SITENAME 2004 2006 SITENAME 2004 2006 

HOOK POINT 96 101 UNIMAK/CAPE LAZAREF 0 

STEEP POINT 1 11 UNIMAK/CAPE LUTKE 0 0 

MIDDLETON 4 0 UNIMAK/SCOTCH CAP 0 0 

POINT ELEANOR 0 UNIMAK/S OF SARICHEF 19 

PERRY 218 KALIGAGAN 1 0 

PLEIADES 0 UNIMAK/SENNETT POINT 0 1 

POINT LaTOUCHE 0 0 BASALT ROCK 1 4 

DANGER 12 10 AKUN/AKUN BAY 0 0 

PROCESSION ROCKS 36 67 AKUN/JACKASS POINT 0 0 

CAPE JUNKEN 0 0 AKUN/AKUN HEAD 0 0 

CAPE RESURRECTION 3 0 AKUTAN/BATTERY POINT 0 0 

GRANITE CAPE 1 89 AVATANAK 15 

RABBIT 0 0 BABY 0 4 

NEAR AIALIK CAPE 103 INNER SIGNAL 38 0 

HOOF POINT 52 UNALASKA/PRIEST ROCK 0 1 

CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA UNALASKA/WHALEBONE CAPE 0 0 

FLAT 4 UNALASKA/CAPE WISLOW 0 0 

SHAW 81 162 UNALASKA/CAPE STARICHKOF 0 0 

NUKA POINT 0 0 UNALASKA/KOVRIZHKA 0 0 

PERL ROCKS 0 UNALASKA/RK NEAR MAKUSHIN 60 

WEST AMATULI 0 0 UMNAK/CAPE IDAK 0 

SUD 0 0 EMERALD 0 

KODIAK/CAPE PARAMANOF 0 0 UMNAK/REINDEER POINT 0 

CAPE DOUGLAS 0 0 UMNAK/CAPE CHAGAK 0 

KODIAK/MALINA POINT 0 0 UMNAK/AGULIUK POINT 0 

NOISY 0 0 SAMALGA 1 0 

KODIAK/CAPE KULIUK 0 0 CENTRAL ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

CAPE NUKSHAK 0 0 TAGALAK 91 134 

CAPE UGYAK 0 0 SILAK 38 32 

KODIAK/SUNDSTROM 0 ADAK/CAPE MOFFET 0 0 

CAPE GULL 0 0 ADAK/ARGONNE POINT 35 12 

CAPE KULIAK 0 BOBROF 49 21 

KODIAK/CAPE ALITAK 0 SEMISOPOCHNOI/PETREL 0 43 

KODIAK/CAPE UYAK 0 SEMISOPOCHNOI/SW KNOB 17 0 

KODIAK/STURGEON HEAD 0 SEMISOPOCHNOI/TUMAN POINT 0 0 

KODIAK/CAPE IKOLIK 108 52 SEGULA/GULA POINT 1 

KODIAK/TOMBSTONE ROCKS 0 0 AMLIA/CAPE MISTY 21 

KILOKAK ROCKS 85 144 KONIUJI/NORTH POINT 0 0 

AIUGNAK COLUMNS 1 24 CHUGUL 39 69 

AGHIYUK 27 5 IGITKIN/SW POINT 0 0 

WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA ADAK/CRONE ISLAND 0 

OLGA ROCKS NE 11 28 KANAGA/CAPE CHUNU 9 

OLGA ROCKS SW 117 102 ILAK 45 

SUSHILNOI ROCKS 290 327 SKAGUL/S. POINT 1 

CATON 109 368 OGLIUGA 49 

ATKULIK 0 0 AMCHITKA/OMEGA POINT 0 0 

CHANKLIUT 0 0 AMCHITKA/CHITKA POINT 0 

SEAL CAPE 0 0 AMCHITKA/BIRD 0 

BIG KONIUJI 0 0 TWIN ROCKS (KISKA) 13 

TWINS 0 0 KISKA/SOUTH HEAD 0 0 

NAGAI/RK W OF CAPE WEDGE 0 0 KISKA/WITCHCRAFT POINT 0 

EGG (SAND POINT) 0 0 KISKA/GERTRUDE-BUKHTI 0 0 

UNGA/CAPE UNGA 0 0 WESTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

OMEGA 0 1 INGENSTREM ROCKS 0 1 

WOSNESENSKI 166 113 NIZKI 0 0 

HUNT 0 0 DAN'S ROCKS 0 0 

HAGUE ROCK 0 0 

SOZAVARIKA 0 0 TOTAL OTHER SITES 1,600 2,394 

SANAK 0 0 

UMGA 0 0 

68
Appendix Table 3. Summary of TREND SITES surveyed (A& B) and counts of adult and juvenile (nonpup) Steller sea lions at 1990s Trend Sites (C & D) from medium-format aerial photos taken in 

June 2004 and June 2006. Counts are unadjusted counts from medium format photographs. 

A. Number of 70s Trend Sites Surveyed C. Counts of Non-Pup Steller Sea Lions 

Only Completely Surveyed Sub-Areas 

Sub-Area 2004 2006 Sub-Area 2004 2006 

E GULF 9 9 E GULF 3,129 3,115 

C GULF 16 7 C GULF 4,180 

W GULF 9 8 W GULF 5,431 

E ALEU 11 11 E ALEU 6,217 6,199 

C ALEU 38 15 C ALEU 7,145 

W ALEU 4 3 W ALEU 1,335 

Total 87 53 Total 27,437 

B. Number of 90s Trend Sites Surveyed D. Counts of Non-Pup Steller Sea Lions 

Sub-Areas Missing Only 1 Trend Site 

Sub-Area 2004 2006 (removed from both years) 

E GULF 13 13 Sub-Area 2004 2006 

C GULF 33 14 W GULF 4,603 4,448 

W GULF 20 19 W ALEU 1,227 997 

E ALEU 27 27 

C ALEU 58 24 

W ALEU 10 9 

Total 161 106 

69
70

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

E ALEU (All sites)

W GULF (Missing 1)

E GULF (All sites)

W ALEU (Missing 1)

Non-Pups at 1990s Trend Sites by Region

Appendix Figure 1. Counts of adult and juvenile (non-pup) Steller sea lions at 1990s 

Trend Sites (Table 1) by region (=sub-area) in the range of the western stock in 

Alaska. Only those regions with complete (eastern Aleutian Islands=E ALEU and 

eastern Gulf of Alaska=E GULF) or nearly complete (missing only 1 trend site: 

western Gulf of Alaska=W GULF and western Aleutian Islands=W ALEU) 

surveys of trend sites are shown. Sea lions in 2004 and 2006 were counted on 

medium format photographs taken vertically over trend sites; sea lions in all other 

years were counted on 35 mm slides shot obliquely from side windows of aircraft. 

Region totals for 2004 and 2006 reflect a reduction of 3.64% from the actual 

medium format count to account for the higher resolution and higher counts 

available from medium format vs. 35 mm film (Fritz and Stinchcomb 2005). 
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