The Marine Mammal Center
- Sausalito, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2003

CHARGES FILED AGAINST PERPETRATORS WHO SHOT CALIFORNIA SEA LION WITH CROSSBOW

On April 3, 2003 the US Department of Justice filed charges against several men responsible for shooting a sea lion pup, later named “Arrow” by her rescuers. Arrow was discovered on a Morro Bay dock entangled in fishing line and hooks, and with a crossbow arrow lodged between her shoulders on November 6th, 2002 in San Luis Obispo County. She was rescued by The Marine Mammal Center, and transported to its hospital in Sausalito, California. Arrow was five-months-old at the time of rescue, and spent several months recuperating at The Center and was released back into the wild at Point Reyes on February 7, 2003.

The Center worked in partnership with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) to publicize the crime perpetrated against Arrow and helped raise a reward for information leading to an arrest. Forensic analysis of the arrow provided initial leads, enabling NOAA law enforcement to gather eyewitness testimony and issue search warrants that eventually led to today’s charges following a grand jury hearing on March 27, 2003. “We are very pleased that NOAA Fisheries solved this case and that the Department of Justice has pursued it,” said B. J. Griffin, Executive Director of The Marine Mammal Center. “The court’s enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act sends a clear message that killing marine mammals is not only unacceptable, but carries financial penalties. Sea lions are a highly intelligent species--capable of suffering and pain just like any other mammal--and that’s why we work day and night to rehabilitate them and to protect them in the wild.”

While the crossbow injury was a sad first for The Center, human interaction cases are not uncommon. Marine mammals are protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which prohibits anyone from harming or disturbing marine mammals. While shooting a marine mammal is only a misdemeanor under the MMPA, it carries a maximum fine up to $20,000 and one year in jail. More than 15% of animals treated at The Center are a result of human interaction, the most prevalent of which are gunshot injuries.

The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit hospital dedicated to the care of wild marine mammals, rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals that strand ill, injured or orphaned along 600 miles of northern and central California coastline. Since 1975, over 9,000 marine mammals have received a second chance at life and thousands have been successfully released back to their wild ocean home. The Center uniquely combines its rehabilitation program with scientific discovery and education programs to advance our understanding of marine mammal health, ocean health and promote conservation. The year 2003 marks The Center’s 28h year of conserving marine mammals and their habitat.