Waterfront in Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
California Sea Lion / Northern Fur Seal
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
Size: Females up to 6.5 feet long, males up to 8 feet long.
Weight: Females up to 400 pounds, males up to 1,000 pounds.
Diet: A variety of fishes, including Pacific whiting, market squid, shellfish, rockfish, herring and salmon.
Lifespan: 18 to 25 years
Conservation Status
California sea lions were hunted intensely in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and their populations declined. Most populations rebounded after the passage of laws protecting marine mammals. Today, this species is threatened by entanglement in fishing nets and other marine debris and pollution, including DDT and PCBs.
Northern Fur Seal
Callorhinus ursinus
Size: Females up to 4.5 feet long, males up to 7 feet long.
Weight: Females up to 120 pounds, males up to 600 pounds.
Diet: Squid and small schooling fishes such as walleye, polluck and herring.
Lifespan: 15 to 25 years.
Conservation Status
Fur seals were commercially hunted for their pelts until the first bans were established in 1966. The population has continued to decline since then. The reason
this page online
Natural Companions
This exhibit features Northern fur seals and California sea lions. Although their population ranges differ, their habitats do overlap in the wild.
Erected by New England Aquarium.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.
Location. 42° 21.55′ N, 71° 2.92′ W. Marker is in Boston, Massachusetts, in Suffolk County. It is in Waterfront. Marker can be reached from Central Wharf east of Old Atlantic Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 248 R Atlantic Ave, Boston MA 02110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. History of the New England Aquarium (a few steps from this marker); Marine Life in Boston Harbor (within shouting distance of this marker); David B. Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); 255 State Street Sea Glass (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Central Artery / The Rose Kennedy Greenway (approx. 0.2 miles
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 5, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
