SF Bay Whale Watching Passengers Share a Ride With 10 California Sea Lions

There was plenty of room aboard-ship for all of the 40+ SF Bay Whale Watching passengers and 10 California Sea Lions as they left port and headed out under the Golden Gate Bridge last weekend. With 27 miles of ocean to cross on the way to their Farallon Islands destination, there was also ample time to get acquainted.

Unbeknown to the whale watchers at the time they booked their trip in search of wildlife sightings, the Marine Mammal Center had asked Verne Bryant, owner of SF Bay Whale Watching, if 10 recovered California Sea Lions could hitch a ride out to the Farallones for release to the wild.




The Marine Mammal Center has experienced a remarkable surge in the numbers of ailing sea lions needing treatment. The San Francisco Chronicle recently published an article detailing the record number of calls that the Center received in June, and the 85 sea lions that were then convalescing in the Center’s newly opened Sausalito rehabilitation facility.



What better way to ferry back home to the Farallones than to join a group of whale/dolphin/sea turtle/albatross/seal lovers?! Comfortably berthed two to a transport box (ok..., dog crate) the young California Sea Lions gave the best marine-life show and tell demonstration imaginable. SF Bay Whale Watching Naturalist and Marine Mammal Center staff member, Trish Mirabella narrated the entire experience for the lucky passengers. That was some great classroom!


Our friend and Shelltone Whale Project inventor, Pierre Lavagne, volunteered his services setting the sea lions free. That was a perk for both Pierre and for all our fascinated passengers. Oh, and they saw whales too! And dolphins, and a giant Mola Mola fish, and thousands of sea birds, and Elephant Seals...

Photos by Trish Mirabella. Text by Kathleen Jacques.