U.S. Dept Commerce/NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC/Publications

NOAA-NWFSC Tech Memo-28: Impact of sea lions and seals on Pacific Coast salmonids

Appendix G Summary of Food Habit Studies of Pacific Harbor Seals in Washington, Oregon, and California Since 1970. Prey species noted are those which occurred in more than 10% of samples (except salmonids).

Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples

Methods

Source
So. Puget Sound, WA 1977 Unknown unk staghorn sculpin
Pacific whiting
unk
unk
scat/otoliths Calambokidis et al. 1978
Nisqually River, WA 1988 March 21 Pacific Whiting
Pacific tomcod
flatfish
walleye pollock
plainfin midshipman
shiner perch
Pacific herring
76
62
38
28
24
19
19
scat/otoliths and bones NMFS/AFSC data3
Gertrude Island, WA 1979 Summer, fall 101 Pacific Whiting
plainfin midshipman
shiner perch
flatfish
unk
unk
unk
unk
scat/otoliths Everitt et al. 1981

1994­95 Year-round 207 Pacific tomcod
plainfin midshipman
Pacific herring
Pacific whiting
market squid
English sole
shiner surf perch
slender sole
54
39
39
32
28
22
16
11
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
WDFW data4
salmonids 2

Hood Canal, WA 1977­78 Apr to Oct unk Pacific whiting
plainfin midshipman
shiner perch
blackfin sculpin
walleye pollock
unk
unk
unk
unk
unk
scat/otoliths Calambokidis et al. 1978


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Smith Island, WA 1977 July/August unk eel pout
Pacific herring
sand lance
unk
unk
unk
scat/otoliths Calambokidis et al. 1978
Protection Island, WA 1978­79 Year-round 129 walleye pollock
shiner perch
Pacific herring
flatfish
unk
unk
unk
unk
scat/otoliths Calambokidis et al. 1978


Fall
Winter

pink salmon
steelhead
unk
unk


Everett, WA 1989
1995
Jan, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov 142 Pacific Whiting
Pacific herring
80
30
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
NMFS/AFSC data




salmonids 2

Grays Harbor, WA 1976­77 May to Sep, Feb, Mar 24 small crustaceans
anchovy
gadids
21
17
17
gastrointestinal tracts from collected
seals/otoliths, flesh, scales
Johnson and Jeffries 1983


Aug
salmonids 4


1980­82 Year-round 403 anchovy
flatfish
smelt
sculpin
small crustaceans
gadids
lamprey
28
27
22
21
18
17
13
scats/otoliths Beach et al. 1985


Jul, Aug
June

steelhead
chinook
3
<1




Apr to Nov 371 salmonids 10 scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Reanalysis by Riemer and Brown 1996


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Grays Harbor, WA
(continued)
1991-93 Summer/fall 10 smelt
Pacific whiting
anchovy
40
20
20
gastrointestinal tracts from seals caught
in gillnets and beachcast specimens/
otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Brown et al. 1995



salmonids 50
Willapa Bay, WA 1980­82 Mar to Sep 211 flatfish
anchovy
sculpin
surf perch
crustaceans
gadids
lamprey
Pacific herring
55
40
35
31
17
11
10
10
scat/otoliths Beach et al. 1985


Jun to Aug
Aug

steelhead
chinook
4
1




Jun to Sept 197 salmonids 28 scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Reanalysis by Riemer and Brown 1996

1991­93 Summer/fall 10 anchovy
flatfish
smelt
Pacific herring
gadids
30
30
30
20
20
gastrointestinal tracts from seals
incidentally caught in gillnets and
beachcast specimens/otoliths, bones,
teeth, lenses, cartilaginous parts, beaks
Brown et al. 1995



salmonids 20


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Columbia River 1980­82 Year-round 436 whitebait smelt
anchovy
lamprey
flatfish
gadids
staghorn sculpin
eulachon
36
21
14
12
12
11
10
scat/otoliths, teeth, beaks,
cartilaginous parts
Beach et al. 1985

Apr­Aug
steelhead
sockeye
<1
<1


Apr­Oct 342 salmonids 6 scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Reanalysis by Riemer and Brown 1996

1986­88 Winter 83 eulachon
longfin smelt
lamprey
100
14
10
gastrointestinal tracts from seals caught
incidentally in gillnets and beachcast
specimens/otoliths, flesh, whole fish
Brown et al. 1989

1991­94 Oct to June
(most in Feb)
61 eulachon 85 gastrointestinal tracts from seals taken
incidentally in gillnets and beachcast
specimens/otoliths, bones,
teeth, lenses, cartilaginous parts
Brown et al. 1995


salmonids 12

1992­93 Feb to March 51 eulachon
lamprey
starry flounder
88
20
12
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth,
lenses, cartilaginous parts, beaks
Brown et al. 1995

1994 Sep to Oct 36 northern anchovy
Pacific herring
smelt
staghorn sculpin
50
44
25
19
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


salmonids 39


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Columbia River
(continued)
1995 April 67 staghorn sculpin
starry flounder
Pacific herring
smelt
lamprey
prickleback
49
36
28
18
16
15
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


salmonids 19


10 Pacific herring
staghorn sculpin
40
30
enema/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


salmonids 10


2 staghorn sculpin
American shad
flatfish
shrimp
50
50
50
50
lavage/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996
Columbia River and
adjacent estuaries
1980­82 Year-round 50 eulachon
anchovy
Pacific tomcod
Pacific herring
40
26
16
14
gastrointestinal tracts from stranded
seals/otoliths, teeth, beaks,
cartilaginous parts
Beach et al. 1985




salmonids
salmonids
6
12
otoliths only
otoliths, bones, flesh, scales
Tillamook Bay, OR 1981 Sep to Oct 38 flatfish
crustaceans
sand lance
71
29
11
scat/otoliths, teeth, beaks,
cartilaginous parts
Beach et al. 1985


salmonids 8

Sep to Oct 38 salmonids 19 scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Reanalysis by Riemer and Brown 1996


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Netarts Bay, OR 1977­79 Aug to Oct 95 sand lance
English sole
rex sole
sanddab
staghorn sculpin
Dover sole
slender sole
39
32
26
18
17
17
12
scat/otoliths Brown and Mate 1983


steelhead 1
Siletz River, OR 1983­85 Year-round 18 Dover sole
rex sole
Pacific whiting
67
28
11
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


salmonids 11
Alsea Bay, OR 1986 Sep 6 rex sole
Pacific whiting
Dover sole
smelt
83
33
33
17
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


salmonids 17
Umpqua River, OR 1988­93 Summer/ winter 25 lamprey
surfperch
sculpin
cephalopods
56
20
16
12
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
Riemer and Brown 1996


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Coos Bay, OR 1978­81 Feb to Sep 279 staghorn sculpin
English sole
surfperch
Pacific herring
cephalopods
sanddab
rex sole
29
22
20
19
14
13
10
scat/otoliths, jaw parts, beaks Graybill 1981



salmonids 1
Rogue River, OR 1976­79 Year-round 60 lamprey 27 observations of seals feeding actively
(60 observations)
Roffe and Mate 1984



salmonids 30


Mar to May, Aug, Sep 13 lamprey
eulachon
92
23
gastrointestinal tracts from collected
seals/otoliths, some bones, jaw parts, beaks
Roffe and Mate 1984



salmonids 31


Spring/fall 89 lamprey
eulachon
81
12
scat/otoliths, jaw parts, some bones Roffe and Mate 1984


Sep
salmonids 6

1994, 1995 Oct to May 394 lamprey
rex sole
rockfish
Pacific tomcod
octopus
flatfish
Pacific herring
slender sole
26
23
21
20
17
15
14
12
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth, lenses,
cartilaginous parts, beaks
ODFW data5



salmonids 13


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Klamath River, CA 1978­79 Mar to Nov 193 lamprey
surf smelt
eulachon
72
13
10
scat/otoliths Bowlby 1981



salmonids 3

1978­79 Apr to Aug 8 surf smelt
lamprey
eulachon
sculpin
75
25
13
13
gastrointestinal tracts from
beachcast seals/otoliths
Bowlby 1981



salmonids 13
Russian River, CA 1989­91 Year-round 155 flatfish
octopus
Pacific whiting
hagfish
plainfin midshipman
67
44
40
28
23
scat/otoliths, bones, teeth Hanson 1993



salmonids 7
San Francisco Bay, CA 1991­92 Year-round 153 plainfin midshipman
anchovy
sculpin
21
20
14
scat/otoliths Torok 1994
Monterey Bay, CA 1991 Year-round 306 octopus
spotted cuskeel
market squid
plainfin midshipman
rockfish
white croaker
Pacific sanddab
staghorn sculpin
56
43
29
20
19
19
15
12
scat/otoliths, beaks Oxman 1995


Area

Year
Sampling
time period

n1

Prey
Percent of
samples2

Methods

Source
Monterey Bay, CA 1991-92 Year-round 219 octopus
market squid
rockfish
cuskeel
plainfin midshipman
Pacific sanddab
50
45
22
18
15
13
scat/otoliths, beaks Trumble 1995
Channel Islands, CA 1980­93 Year-round 1,867 rockfish
cuskeel
50
12
scat/otoliths, beaks Stewart and Yochem 1994
Southern California 1990­93 Year-round 398 octopus
plainfin midshipman
market squid
50
43
23
scat/otoliths, beaks Beeson 1995

  1. n=number of samples
  2. Percent of samples (scat, stomach, etc.) examined that contained the identified prey. This is not the percentage of that prey in the total diet. Only species that occurred in quantities equal to or greater than 10% were included in this table (except salmonids, which were reported at any level).
  3. National Marine Fisheries Service/Alaska Fisheries Science Center
  4. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
  5. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife


APPENDIX H. COMMON NAMES AND GENUS/SPECIES OF PINNIPED PREY SPECIES
REPORTED IN WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND CALIFORNIA


Atheresthes stomias Paralabax nebulifer Chromis punctipinnis Sebastes pausispinis Sarda chiliensis Cypcelurus californicus Paralichthys californicus Diaphus theta Leuroglossus stilbius Cyprinus carpio Gadidae . Sciaenidae Genyonemus lineatus Chilara taylori Thaleichthys pacificus Pleuronectidae/Bothidae Bothidae Pleuronectidae Gadidae Lepidogobius lepidus Hexagrammos decagrammus Maedialuna californiensis Paralabrax clathratus Hemilepidotus spinosus Ceratoscopelus townsendi Stenobrachius leucopsarus Lampetra tridentata Lampetra ayresi Myctophidae Tarlentonbeania crenularis Ophiodon elongatus Scomber japonicus Trachurus symmetricus Ichychthys lockingtoni Engraulis mordax Ronquilus jordani Argentina sialis Clupea pallasi Peprilus simillimus Trichodon trichodon Sardinops sagax Cololabis saira Merluccius productus Brachyistius frenatus Rhacochilus vacca Cymatogaster aggregata Porichthys notatus Xeneretmus ritteri Plectobranchus evides Lumpenus sagitta Poroclinus rothrocki Scorpaenidae Sebastes aurora Sebastes rufus Sebastes goodei Sebastes semicinctus Sebastes umbrosus Sebastes jordani Sebastes diploproa Sebastes hopkinsi Anoplopoma fimbria Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Oncorhynchus keta Oncorhynchus kisutch Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Oncorhynchus nerka Ammodytes hexapterus Citharichthys sordidus Citharichthys stigmaeus Cottidae Enophrys bison Radulinus asprellus Leptocottus armatus Icelinus filamentosus Oxyjulis californica Alosa sapidissima Squalus acanthias Galeorhinus zyopterus Sebastolobus alascanus Atherinidae Osmeridae Thaleichthys pacificus Spirinchus thaleichththys Hypomesus pretiosus Allosmerus elongatus Isopsetta isolepsis Microstomus pacificus Parophrys vetulus Hippoglossoides elassodon Eopsetta jordani Glyptocephalus zachirus Lepidopsetta bilineata Psettichthys melanosticuts Lyopsetta exilis Platichthys stellatus Oncorhynchus mykiss Embiotocidae Zalembius rosaceus Amphistichus rhodoterus Hyperprosodon anale Microgadus proximus Atherinops affinis Theragra chalcogramma Phanerodon furcatus Labridae
Common name Species name Family name

Fish

Arrowtooth flounder Pleuronectidae
Barred sand bass Serranidae
Blacksmith Pomacentridae
Bocaccio Scorpaenidae
Bonito, Pacific Scombridae
California flyingfish Exocoetidae
California halibut Bothidae
California headlightfish Myctophidae
California smoothtongue Bathylagidae
Carp, common Cyprinidae
Codfish, unid. Gadidae
Combfish, unid. Zaniolepis sppHexagrammidae
Croaker, unid. Sciaenidae
Croaker, White Sciaenidae
Cusk­eel, Spotted Ophidiidae
Eulachon Osmeridae
Flatfish, unid. ­ ­ ­ ­
Flounder, unid. lefteye Bothidae
Flounder, unid. righteye Pleuronectidae
Gadids, unid. Gadidae
Goby, Bay Gobbidae
Greenling, Kelp Hexagrammidae
Gunnel, unid. Pholis spp. Pholidae
Hagfish, unspec. Eptatretus spp. Myxinidae
Halfmoon Kyphosidae
Kelp bass Serranidae
Irish lord, Brown Cottidae
Lampfish, Dogtooth Myctophidae
Lampfish, Northern Myctophidae
Lamprey, Pacific Petromyzontidae
Lamprey, River Petromyzontidae
Lamprey, unid. Lampetra spp. Petromyzontidae
Lanternfish, unid. Myctophidae
Lanternfish, Blue Myctophidae
Lingcod Hexagrammidae
Mackerel, Chub (Pacific) Scombridae
Mackerel, Jack Carangidae
Medusafish Stromateidae
Northern anchovy Engraulidae
Northern ronquil Bathymasteridae
Pacific argentine Argentinidae
Pacific herring Clupeidae
Pacific pompano Stromateidae
Pacific sandfish Trichodontidae
Pacific sardine Clupeiformes
Pacific saury Scomberesocidae
Pacific whiting Gadidae
Perch, Kelp Embiotocidae
Perch, Pile Embiotocidae
Perch, Shiner Embiotocidae
Plainfin midshipman Batachididae
Poacher, unid. Xeneretmus spp. Agonidae
Poacher, Stripefin Agonidae
Prickleback, Bluebarred Stichaeidae
Prickleback, Snake Stichaeidae
Prickleback, Whitebarred Stichaeidae
Rockfish, unid. Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, unspecified Sebastes spp. Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Aurora Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Bank Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Chilipepper Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Halfbanded Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Honeycomb Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Shortbelly Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Splitnose Scorpaenidae
Rockfish, Squarespot Scorpaenidae
Sablefish Anoplopomatidae
Salmon, Chinook Salmonidae
Salmon, Chum Salmonidae
Salmon, Coho Salmonidae
Salmon, Pink Salmonidae
Salmon, Sockeye Salmonidae
Sand lance, Pacific Ammodytidae
Sanddab, unspecified Citharichthys spp. Bothidae
Sanddab, Pacific Bothidae
Sanddab, Speckled Bothidae
Sculpin, unid. Cottidae
Sculpin, unid. Myoxocephalus spp. Cottidae
Sculpin, unid. Cottus spp. Cottidae
Sculpin, unid. Icelinus spp.Cottidae
Sculpin, Buffalo Cottidae
Sculpin, Slim Cottidae
Sculpin, Staghorn Cottidae
Sculpin, Threadfin Cottidae
Sea Bass Paralabrax spp Serranidae
Señorita Labridae
Shad, American Clupeidae
Shark, Spiny dogfish Squalidae
Shark, Soupfin Carcharhinidae
Shortspine thornyhead Scorpaenidae
Silverside, unid. Atherinidae
Smelt, Unid. Osmeridae
Smelt, Eulachon Osmeridae
Smelt, Longfin Osmeridae
Smelt, Surf Osmeridae
Smelt, Whitebait Osmeridae
Sole, Butter Pleuronectidae
Sole, Dover Pleuronectidae
Sole, English Pleuronectidae
Sole, Flathead Pleuronectidae
Sole, Petrale Pleuronectidae
Sole, Rex Pleuronectidae
Sole, Rock Pleuronectidae
Sole, Sand Pleuronectidae
Sole, Slender Pleuronectidae
Starry flounder Pleuronectidae
Steelhead Salmonidae
Surfperch, unid. Embiotocidae
Surfperch, Pink Embiotocidae
Surfperch, Redtail Embiotocidae
Surfperch, Spotfin Embiotocidae
Tomcod, Pacific Gadidae
Topsmelt Atherinidae
Walleye pollock Gadidae
White seaperch Embiotocidae
Wrasse, unid. Labridae

Cephalopods

Octopus Octopus spp.
Squid, market Loligo opalescens
Squid Chiroteuthis calyx
Squid Cranchia scabra
Squid Gonatopsis borealis
Squid Gonatus berryi
Squid Mastigoteuthis pyrodes
Squid Gonatus onyx
Squid Ocythoe tuberculata
Squid Onychoteuthis borealijaponicus
Squid Histioteuthis heteropsis
Squid Octopodoteuthis deletron
Squid, unid. Abraliopsis spp.
Squid, unid. Cranchiidae
Squid, unid. Gonatidae

Crustaceans

Crab Cancer spp.
Crangon shrimp Crangon spp.
Dungeness crab Cancer magister
Ghost shrimp Callianassa spp.
Pelagic red crab Pleuroncodes planipes

Table of Contents