Injured Sea Lion Rescued Outside of Newport Harbor

A sea lion, who was suffering from severe injuries due to a fishing line being wrapped tightly around its neck for a few weeks, was rescued Friday outside of Newport Harbor, the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported.

Sheriff's deputies worked alongside workers from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach to rescue the tangled sea lion from the fishing line that was digging into its flesh, according to Sgt. John Hollenbeck of the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.

"We attempted a week ago to get this particular sea lion, but as soon as the boat got near he made a run for it,'' Hollenbeck said. "(Today) it was becoming a life-threatening issue.''

The sea lion's wounds from the fishing line were badly infected, Hollenbeck said, and was starving the 3-year-old sea lion who weighed in at 145 pounds, but should weigh closer to 200 pounds.

"If left untreated, the infection would soon become fatal, so it was vital to catch him today," Hollenbeck explained.

Friday morning a sheriff's harbor patrol boat with PMCC staff aboard managed to get close enough to the buoy where the sea lion was, and after several attempts the rescuers were able to use a giant hoop net to scoop the sea lion to safety.

Hollenbeck said it took three PMMC staff members and three deputies to wrestle the sea lion onto the deck and into a large dog crate. 

The sea lion is now resting comfortably at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, according to sheriff's officials, and will be released back into the ocean when it gets better.

The PMMC plans to name the sea lion after Laguna Beach Police Officer Jon Coutchie, who was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 21, Hollenbeck added.

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