A video showing a fisherman throwing an explosive into a group of sea lions caused an uproar on social media.
The video shows the man’s fishing boat surrounded by a mass of sea lions. The fisherman lights, and then throws a “bear banger” into the water. A few seconds later, it explodes, sending all the sea lions back under the water and away from sight.
The video has had mixed reactions, according to CBC, and appears to have been taken down from the Pacific Balance Pinniped Society Facebook page, where it was initially posted, although it still appears in other places on the internet. The Pacific Balance Pinniped Society supports fisherman who confront seals and sea lions in the course of their work.
A “bear banger” is a device used to scare away certain animals, CBC reported. Commercial fisherman Allan Marsden was conducting work in the Strait of Georgia, in British Columbia, Canada, when he lit and threw the device.
Marsden explained his purpose in causing the explosion at the surface of the water.
“You know we’re not out there trying to kill the sea lions, we’re not out there looking for sea lions, we’d rather if they weren’t here,” Marsden told CBC. “They are here, we’re trying to make a living, and we’re just trying to figure out a way to deal with both issues.”
Marsden was at sea looking for herring fish to use as samples in order to gauge what percentage of roe they carried. The presence of the sea lions was keeping the herring away from the water’s surface.
The bear banger was meant to keep Marsden and the group of fisherman on the water with him safe. He said he was injured by a sea lion before, and the Pacific Balance Pinniped Society Facebook page shows a picture of the bruise it caused.
“I got bit before,” he told CBC. ”I’m lucky that I’m not in a wheelchair or worse, dragged overboard and drowned by the sea lion.”
Reminder: it is illegal to disturb #seals, #sealions or other marine mammals. This includes the use of acoustic deterrents such as seal bombs or other explosives. If you see a disturbance to marine mammals in BC, please report it to us at 1-800-465-4336. https://t.co/kT9YQiR9rH pic.twitter.com/mKZSEmpueO
— DFO Pacific (@DFO_Pacific) March 7, 2019
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is conducting an investigation into the incident and may press charges, according to a statement obtained by CBC.
“Reminder: it is illegal to disturb #seals, #sealions or other marine mammals. This includes the use of acoustic deterrents such as seal bombs or other explosives.” Wrote DFO Pacific, via Twitter.
A group admin of Pacific Balance Pinniped Society shared another video from a different Facebook page of a huge sea lion or seal on a fishing boat, tearing into a huge catch of fish. The crew is at first unable to scare the animal away from the vessel.
“Looks like these fisherman have their hands full? As we are seeing Pinnipeds have lost their fear of humans. Seems to be a problem in many regions. Time to make them fear us once again. If not, a commercial fisherman will eventually be killed by one of these fearless predators,” wrote Thomas Sewid, over the shared video.
A marine mammal researcher at the University of British Columbia told CBC that bear bangers are not as safe as they are made out to be, and are meant to be used at a distance.
“Throwing a stick of dynamite next to the head of an animal, you’re going to blow out its hearing. If it’s near its eye, you’re going to blow the eye out,” Andrew Trites told CBC. “I know I’ve heard them say ‘well it doesn’t hurt the animal.’ Well if that’s the case I would challenge them to hold that stick in their hand, light it and let’s film it.”
Marsden told CBC he took part in the video as a way to educate the public on the dangers fishermen face.
