By Richard Bangert
Record numbers of harbor seals have been climbing (called hauling out) onto the new concrete and Styrofoam float in the harbor at Alameda Point. This first-of-its-kind float was delivered to the harbor in June of last year. It was constructed by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) at the urging of local seal advocates to provide a continuing rest spot for the seals. An old wooden dock the seals had been using was slated for demolition to make way a ferry maintenance facility, which is now under construction. The Sierra Club, including executive director Michael Brune, supported the call for a harbor seal float at Alameda Point.
The number of seals resting in the harbor has grown since the new float was brought in. There were 52 seals using the new float on December 24, 2016, vs. 38 on December 25, 2015, when they were using the old wooden dock. By January 5, 2017, the number had risen to 70 seals on the float, all but making the float invisible. It is the only haul-out site in the East Bay between Yuerba Buena Island and Newark.
Many observers have commented that a second float is needed. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), which issued the permit for the seal float and ferry maintenance facility, is amenable to permitting a second float. But they have advised the community that they first want to see what the impact on seal behavior will be once the 12-berth ferry maintenance facility is in operation in 2018.
“BCDC staff would certainly meet with the City to discuss a proposal for a second haul-out,” said Erik Buehmann, permit analyst with BCDC. “However, because there will be significantly more boat activity in the area once the ferry maintenance facility is operational, any new haul-out should be planned in consultation with WETA and incorporate the opinion of experts, such as Dr. Harvey.” Buehmann is referring to Dr. Jim Harvey, director of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, who was hired as a consultant by WETA to help with design and location of the new seal float.
The number of harbor seals using the old wooden dock typically rose dramatically in December of each year and continued with steadily high numbers in the dozens through the spring. Harbor seals need to haul out regularly to warm up. The recent pattern since December 2016 is that the seals will haul out after a rain storm, which is what happened on January 5, 2017.
Members of the public who wish to observe the seals should plan their visits to the Bay Trail at Alameda Point for right after the skies clear up, with early-to-mid-afternoon being the best bet. The best parking option is the parking lot at the Encinal Boat Ramp and beach, which is arrived at via a service road from Central Avenue next to Encinal High School. The Bay Trail comes right to the parking lot.
The City of Alameda is preparing to install a sign at the parking lot to alert kayakers and canoers who launch into the harbor via the beach that they should stay clear of the harbor seals. Small watercraft will often frighten the skittish marine mammals into the water, unlike sea lions that seem to enjoy the close attention. It is a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act to disturb resting harbor seals. The city is also planning to install some warning buoys in the harbor.
The Alameda Point site is the only site on San Francisco Bay where harbor seals can be viewed from a public trail. Popular haul-out sites in the Bay are in the South Bay sloughs – Newark, Mowry, and Bair Island – which require self-propelled watercraft to access. Other popular harbor seal haul-outs in the Bay Area are on a spit in the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner on the Sonoma coast (read more here) and at Pt. Reyes National Seashore (read more here).
The volunteer Alameda Point Harbor Seal Monitors group provides updates on their Facebook page. They can be reached via email at alamedaharborseals@gmail.com.
Image credit: Top photo shows the new float in use on January 5, 2017, photo courtesy Richard Bangert. Map courtesy Richard Bangert.