Recreational boating activity has been shown to affect various marine mammal species
Recreational boating activity has been shown to affect various marine mammal species (Dornbusch & Company 1994; Evans 1991; Green 1991; US Department of Commerce 1990). For example, boating traffic frequently flushes harbor seals from the haul-out sites they use to rest, sleep, molt, nurse and give birth (Allen et al. 1984; Calambokidis et al. 1991; Lelli and Harris 2001; Mortenson et al. 2000; Suryan and Harvey 1999).
Flushing from these sites disrupts normal rest and/or social interactions and separates pups from their mothers (potentially subjecting them to injury or predation and reducing the overall population size). Harbor seals are more likely to return, or rehaul, to these sites if disturbances are of short duration; therefore, high levels of boating traffic or prolonged vessel use may act as a continuous disturbance and prevent rehauling (Allen et al. 1984). Despite concerns regarding PWC use, several studies indicate that harbor seals tend to react more strongly to paddled vessels than to motorized ones (Calambokidis et al. 1991; Lelli and Harris 2001; Suryan and Harvey 1999).
