Articles by Grist staff

The Few, the Proud, the Marine Reserves

California will create nation’s most ambitious marine-protection program California wildlife officials voted this week to create 15 distinct marine reserves from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara, making about 110 square miles of ocean off-limits to most human activity and giving another 94 square miles or so protection of varying degrees. Backers hope the plan […]

The Sea Lion King

A new documentary delves into the lives of California sea lions Because of their long history as circus animals, California sea lions are one of the most widely recognized marine mammals in the world. But they’ve also gained a rep as a pest, hanging around harbors, stealing fish out of salmon ladders and fishing nets. […]

Hey Man, Nice DOT

More Alaska drilling proposed as DOT considers new pipeline regulations Spurred by oil giant BP’s many Alaska leaks, the Department of Transportation will soon propose tighter rules for minor petroleum pipelines. BP’s North Slope lines were exempt from certain federal regulations because they operated at low pressure in a rural area, and weren’t near commercially […]

The documentary filmmaker talks about his film on California sea lions

Avast, mateys! 'Tis been too long since me last post. The good ship Something Fishy, she been a'travelin' far and wide to find ye the juiciest sea-worthy stories yet untold. This week, I introduce you to Alan De Herrera, a documentary filmmaker whose latest work, Sea Lions: An Unforgettable Encounter, delves deep into the lives of California sea lions.

Circus veterans for more than a century, California sea lions are entertaining animals, and as a result, are one of the most widely recognized marine mammals in the world. But De Herrera's more worried about their reputation as pests -- venturing into marinas and climbing aboard boats; following commercial vessels to all the best fishing holes and then pilfering the catch; even maneuvering onto fish ladders to trap salmon on their way upstream.

"[People] just think they're stinky, dumb dogs with flippers that want to go rape and pillage all the fish out there, and that's simply not the case," De Herrera says. His 45-minute film, narrated by former hobbit Sean Astin, aims to show the public how intelligent and playful the animals are and illuminate the threats they face from humans. (One in five sea lions rescued by the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif., have carcinoma -- a cancer linked to chemical exposure -- and another 20 percent suffer from gunshot wounds likely caused by angry fishermen.) "It's not in any way going to be beneficial for human society to eradicate these animals," De Herrera asserts.

I caught up with the impassioned filmmaker between promotional screenings at the Seattle Aquarium earlier this summer to chat about de-villainizing the charismatic mammals, protecting their West Coast habitat, and educating the next generation of fishermen.