Injured Sea Lion Eludes Rescue; New Effort Today

An injured California sea lion with the remnants of a plastic gill net slicing into its neck eluded rescuers off Malibu on Thursday, but officials plan to try again today.

The sea lion has been seen by sportfishermen every day for two weeks on a small platform a quarter mile off the Malibu Pier.

But when rescuers approached in the county lifeguards’ Malibu Baywatch boat, the 175-to-200-pound mammal jumped into the water. Three attempts to coax the animal into a net failed.

The sea lion’s plight has captured the heart of Phil Campanella, owner of Malibu Pier Sportfishing, who has tried for two weeks to get animal control and fish and game officers to mount a rescue mission. At first, Campanella said he was told they would not respond until the animal was immobilized.

“It looks like it has to be hurting. To see an animal out there with a gill net around its neck really bothers you,” Campanella said. “The poor animal has to be suffering, because the gill net is cutting into its neck.”

Near-shore areas of Santa Monica Bay from Malibu Point to Palos Verdes Point are closed to gill netting, according to Department of Fish and Game marina biologist Debbie Aseltine. But gill nets are employed farther north by fishermen seeking halibut in the waters off Point Dume, she said.

Campanella speculates that a fisherman found the sea lion caught in his net and cut the monofilament plastic to free it. But remnants of the net are clearly visible around the sea lion’s neck.

“It looks like he is wearing a little collar,” Campanella said.

The sea lion was first spotted two weeks ago by Jon Christiansen, captain of the Aquarius sportfishing boat, on the platform where anchovies used as fishing bait are stored. The animal has been seen there every morning and afternoon since.

Campanella said the sea lion may be injured, but it is strong enough to elude capture.

“When you get too close to him,” Campanella said, “he just jumps back into water.”

Rescuers, including animal control officers and lifeguards, plan to try a new tactic today, laying a net across the platform and waiting for the sea lion to return. If they are successful, the animal will be taken to Sea World in San Diego for treatment.

Times staff photographer Lisa Romerein contributed to this story.