Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has received a report from a member of the public urging them to attend to a sea lion that looks like it鈥檚 been caught up in some type of rope.

The animal was seen on Friday by a crabber.

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On Monday a DFO crew was in Cowichan Bay to investigate.

鈥淲e will continue to monitor the animal to determine if it鈥檚 body condition is deteriorating,鈥� said DFO spokesperson Lara Sloan.

鈥淒FO is a coordinating member of the B.C. Marine Mammal Response Network,鈥� Sloan explained. 鈥淎ny action in response to a marine mammal in distress is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.鈥�

Sloan said marine debris is a 鈥渟ignificant problem鈥� for marine wildlife. 鈥淭he public can help by cutting packing material, banding, rope and other looped material prior to disposing of it to help prevent marine mammal entanglements,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese materials should not be disposed of in the marine environment.鈥�

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The Vancouver Aquarium鈥檚 Marine Mammal Rescue manager Lindsaye Akhurst said her group has fielded a lot of calls about the sea lion.

鈥淲e are assembling a team and working with DFO to come over sometime in the next few days,鈥� Akhurst said.

DFO encourages people to report all marine mammals in distress to 1-800-465-4336.

sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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