From 1994 to 2005, The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) collected fecal samples at the Umpqua River, Oregon and Columbia River, Oregon/Washington to examine the diet of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Scats were collected at various sites on the Umpqua River and at Desdemona sand spit on the Columbia River. Apart from describing the diet of Pacific harbor seals in these regions, of special interest was to determine the level of predation by these seals on endangered or threatened salmonids (e.g., cutthroat trout; Oncorhynchus clarkii).

The Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) in collaboration with Point Blue Conservation Science initiated long-term studies to determine pup abundance of the California Stock of northern fur seals. The California Stock is comprised of northern fur seals inhabiting San Miguel Island (and Castle Rock, and islet ~1 km northwest) and the Farallon Islands (specifically, Southeast Island) off California. Pup production is the sum of the numbers of live pups and dead pups for a given pupping season. This in turn is used as index to estimate total population abundance. Population abundance is vital to knowing the status of a particular stock or the entire species, as well as knowing what factors are driving population trends. Metadata and datasets corresponding to these studies are reported in Stock Assessment Reports (SAR) for the U.S. Congress and other stakeholders.

From 1993 to 1999, The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) collected fecal samples from Steller sea lions in Washington to examine their diet. Most of the collections are from sites on the northern coast of Washington where Steller sea lions are most common and abundant.

The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) collects fecal samples to examine the diet of pinnipeds, including California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), and Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on San Miguel Island, California. Data are used to examine temporal changes in diet by the populations, as well as to make intra- and inter-specific comparisons at San Miguel Island.

This project investigates the dietary consumption of Hawaiian monk seals using traditional dietary analysis of fecal and regurgitate samples. Samples are collected opportunistically at haul out locations throughout the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Main Hawaiian Islands. Information collected during sample collection includes seal identifications and location of collection. Following cleaning and drying protocols, samples are analyzed and prey hard parts are identified to lowest taxonomic resolution. Identification is made to at least Family level, but often Genus, and occasionally Species level.

This project investigates the dietary consumption of Hawaiian monk seals using traditional dietary analysis of fecal and regurgitate samples. Samples are collected opportunistically at haul out locations throughout the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Main Hawaiian Islands. Information collected during sample collection includes seal identifications and location of collection. Following cleaning and drying protocols, samples are analyzed and prey hard parts are identified to lowest taxonomic resolution. Identification is made to at least Family level, but often Genus, and occasionally Species level.

From 1986 to 1999, The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) collected fecal samples and stomachs of male California sea lions from Washington. Scat samples were collected primarily from haulout sites in Puget Sound and a few were collected along the northern-outer Washington coast. Stomach content samples were collected from dead/stranded California sea lions throughout Washington. The data contains prey identifications and analyses of samples including prey species composition, frequency of occurrence, and size of prey.

The National Marine Mammal Laboratories' California Current Ecosystem Program (AFSC/NOAA) initiated a long-term marking program of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) at San Miguel Island, California in 1975. A sample of up to 300 pups has been tagged in the foreflippers with various types and colors of tags each year between 1975 and the present. Resighting surveys for marked animals are conducted annually at summer breeding sites. Resightings are also obtained from the public when animals are observed on beaches or in fisheries. The data are used in mark-recapture models to estimate the age and sex specific vital parameters of the population and to describe age and sex specific reproductive behavior and seasonal movements of animals throughout their lives.

The purpose of this project is to develop spatially discrete end-to-end models of the California Current LME, linking oceanography, biogeochemistry, food web interactions, habitat, fisheries, economics, monitoring, and management into a common model framework. This framework allows for thought experiments, including evaluation of alternate management strategies, identifying robust indicators, and assessing relative importance of different ecosystem drivers in regulating important processes. NMFS personnel are conducting this work in broad collaboration with other NOAA scientists, academics, and NGOs. The specific work entails model development, scoping issues with stakeholders and policy makers, running scenarios, and analyzing and writing up the results. Products will include peer-reviewed papers, presentations, and workshops with modelers and/or stakeholders. Management audiences include NMFS west coast regions and the PFMC. The project is an on-going, stand-alone project with no firm deadline for completion. West coast fish, mammal, bird diets. Available online as Dufault et al. 2009 NOAA Tech Memo NWFSC-103, with full xls format appendices. https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/scipubs/displayinclude.cfm?incfile=technicalmemorandum2009.inc.

In May of 2001, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) conducted an aerial photographic survey of the California coast and the offshore Channel Islands to obtain a minimum estimate of the population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) living in California. The developed photographs were examined to count the number of harbor seals present and determine the location of each haul-out site by comparison to photos taken in previous surveys. This survey was successful in obtaining nearly complete coverage of all known haul-out areas. The 1995 survey was the last complete coverage. The total county for 2001 is 12,312 harbor seals. This result is the lowest ever recorded by CDFG for a combined count of the mainland and all offshore islands. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) conducted two surveys in 2002 in an attempt to provide better coverage and to lessen the chances of weather related problems. A total of 16 days were scheduled for aerial surveys from May 19 to July 19, 2002. Total count for Survey 1 was 10,541 harbor seals, while that for Survey 2 was 8,374 harbor seals. Camera problems that produced un-readable film and poor weather conditions prevented a complete assessment by either survey. The lack of complete coverage by either Survey 1 or 2 limited the total number of harbor seals counted. This is especially true in areas where past surveys revealed high concentrations of seals such as the northern Channel Islands and Point Reyes - Sonoma County coast. The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) conducted two aerial surveys in 2003 in an attempt to provide better coverage and to lessen the chances of weather related problems. A total of 20 days were scheduled for aerial surveys from May 25 to July 20, 2003. Complete coverage was achieved in both surveys. This was the first time CDFG conducted these surveys using a digital imaging camera. Total count for Survey 1 was 17,415, while that for Survey 2 was 17,778 harbor seals.