What information does the flipper tag tell us?
November 5, 2020, a tagged adult female California sea lion, Long Beach Harbor CA.
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Placement of the tag?
Is the tag on the right or left side?
• Right Side= Female
• Left Side= Male
Is the tag on the front or rear flippers?
• Front Flippers= Eared Seals (Sea Lions, Northern Fur Seals, Guadalupe Fur Seals)
• Rear Flippers= True (or Earless) Seals (Harbor Seals, Northern Elephant Seals)
The animal in the photo (above) is tagged on the front right flipper; identifying her as a female, California Sea Lion.
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What color is the tag?
There are many different colored tags, each having its own meaning. The color also identifies the organization(s) which applied the tag. Here are some examples
• An orange tag indicates the animal was in a rehabilitation center.
• A yellow tag indicates the animal was part of a project on one of the Channel Islands.
• A red tag indicates an animal was tagged specifically on San Nicolas Island.
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What do the numbers and letters mean?
The tag is a unique identifier for that animal. A tag can reveal some of the following information:
• Date of stranding or interaction (disentanglement, research, conservation, etc.)
• Cause of stranding
• Age
• Gender
• Weight
• Date of tagging
• Release date
• Release location
• Any additional re-sites of this animal
This information is just like the information in your own medical records.
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What is the tag's shape?
If the numbers on the tag are worn away or faded, information can still be collected. The shape of the tag can give us an approximate range of years that particular tag shape was used.
The tag in the picture (left) was phased out between the years 2013-2015. That would make this animal, in 2020, at least 5-7 years old.
May 29, 2020, W2088, the first tagged animal OARRA recorded on OARRA's first monitoring and survey trip.
Aug 8, 2020, W4950 still healing from his entanglement, buoy Los Angeles Harbor, CA
August 20, 2020, W5265, asleep, red buoy #2, Long Beach Harbor, Long Beach, CA.
November 5, 2020, W2115 in good body condition hauled out with friends on a buoy outside the Los Angeles Harbor, Los Angeles CA.
November 5, 2020 W2518 scratching an itch, Seal Rock, Laguna Beach, CA.
November 5, 2020, W3875 on buoy, Long Beach Harbor, CA. Long Beach Arena is visible in the background.
November 18, 2020, W2113 hauled out on San Mateo Rocks, San Clemente, CA.
August 20, 2020, W5022 entangled in fishing gear on the Esther oil rig mooring.
January 2021, W2078 (front right) resting on the buoy in the heavy fog.
July 6,2021 Approx. 5 yrs old, W5866 hauled out on the LA maritime Museum dock Los Angeles Harbor.
September 2, 2021, W5346, (3.5 yrs. old) female, sleeping on W8171 (1.2 yrs. old) on 2SJR Bouy off Dana Point, CA. This is the 5th time over the year W5346 was observed.
September 9, 2021, W5282, a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina r.) approximately 2.7 yrs. old hauled out in Los Angeles Harbor.
January 28,2022, W5346 on Buoy #2 by the mouth of Dana Point Harbor entrance. OARRA has observed this animal five times over the past year in this area. She is approximately 3.6 years old in this photo.
November 11, 2022, W1139, at the Sea Launch Fuel Pier, Port of Los Angeles. Here 4.5 yrs after release, he is approximately 5.4 yrs old. He was released from successful rehabilitation at eight months of age.
February 18, 2022, W1367, hauled out on the Long Beach Buoy. She is approximately 6.6 years old.
March 25, 2022, is the fifth time we have recorded W1800. Here at approx 4.8 yrs old, he is hauled out on Green Buoy #11 ISP, Port of Los Angeles, 3.8 yrs after release from rehabilitation.
June 23, 2022, W3942, 3.1 years after release from rehabilitation, now four years old, is hauled out on the P1 Mooring in the Port of Long Beach, CA.
October 14, 2022, W5295, three years after release from rehabilitation, hauled out on the Red Buoy #6 OSP, Port of Los Angeles. He is approximately 4.3 years old. This is the 4th time over the past 16 months that OARRA has recorded him.
October 21, 2022. W5792 hauled out on the Bow bulb of Orion III Tanker, anchored inside the Port of Long Beach. Here 1.5 years after release from rehabilitation, she is approx 2.4 yrs old and in good condition.
November 18, 2022, W5795 hauled out at the Chevron Marine Terminal, Mooring 8 off El Segundo Beach. She is approximately 5.4 yrs old.
June 16, 2022. W5878 (with sat tag) and W5932 on the Redondo Beach Harbor Sea lion Barge. Both are in good condition, and the satellite tag is still attached.
October 30, 2022, W5860, on the sea lion barge in Redondo Beach Harbor with a cadre of other sea lions. When rescued, his left eye was injured and had to be removed (enucleated) during rehabilitation. He was successfully released four months later. OARRA recorded him eight months after release, and he is seemingly doing well.
October 28, 2022, W5869, on Basin H Docks Marina Del Rey Harbor. He was rescued over a year ago, successfully disentangled, and released from rehabilitation. When sited by OARRA, he is approximately 5.4 yrs.
Putting It Together
Only by observing can one begin to understand the problems; Only through understanding can change begin to happen.
OARRA is bridging the gap of identifying the problems, understanding them, and promoting change for a healthier environment for all.
Your support is greatly appreciated and needed. You give the marine mammals the voices they need.