A Sea-Smart Lion

Would-be rescuers trying to save a sea lion that has a life-threatening fishing line wrapped around its neck say it is time to change strategies--again.

On Friday, volunteers from Friends of the Sea Lion of Laguna Beach tried for the fourth time in 8 weeks to net the injured animal. They were optimistic as they headed toward a bell buoy outside the Newport Harbor breakwater to try a strategy of using one large net between two boats instead of using three small, individual nets.

But once the sea lion saw the approaching boats, it waddled to the other side of the buoy and plunged into the water.

“The animal knows that boat now,” Friends of the Sea Lion director John Cunningham said, referring to the red-and-gray Harbor Patrol boats the volunteers have been using.

“We’re going to have to regroup again,” volunteer Judi Jones said, adding that they will probably try again next week.

Cunningham said the fifth attempt may include the use of five smaller, quieter boats with nets aboard each one.

“We’ll circle the wagons and surround him,” Cunningham said.

The sea lion on the buoy Friday was the smaller of two believed to have the lines around their necks. Jones estimates the smaller one to be a 2-year-old female weighing about 130 pounds and the other a 4-year-old male weighing about 250 to 300 pounds.

Marine life experts think that the sea lions snagged on fishing lines about 8 weeks ago.