Leave the sea lions behind and see the Lido Yacht Expo

Ahoy.

What came first, the sea lion or man? Did Noah load two sea lions

on the Ark? And just how many sea lions are in Newport Harbor causing

all the commotion?

Sea lions are native to the area, and most likely they predate the

arrival of people, including the Chumash Native Ameri- cans. However,

times change, and now the harbor area is inhabited by thousands of

people, and the shorelines have been developed with homes, stores,

offices, restaurants and marinas.

Now, the clash between sea lion and man comes to the forefront.

Those on the Harbor Commission will remember that years ago, when we

all sat on the Harbor Committee, and this exact issue was locked on

the radar.

Then, the culprit was an 800-pound sea lion nicknamed Sinky, who

-- without eminent domain -- had claimed a 21-foot sailboat as his

home. He earned the nickname because many believed Sinky would sink

this boat that was moored in the harbor.

So where are the sea lions supposed to haul out, play, swim, eat

and do what sea lions like to do?

Typically, the mammals haul out on the seaward entrance bell buoy

and at the end of the rock jetties, but sometimes they decide to

enter the harbor to use a boat or dock.

It is not always food that attracts them to swim into the bay and

commandeer a boat.

However, I have seen sea lions following the fishing fleet through

the harbor.

Everyone who fishes can help out by reducing the food incentives

by not throwing fish guts into the harbor waters. When returning from

sea, please empty your bait tank before you reach the jetty entrance.

The sea lions do have a couple of natural predators, but I think

the law of unintended consequences might kick in if we introduce orca

whales and sharks into Newport Harbor. The sea lions are protected,

by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 from being harmed or

killed by humans. So put your barbecue away.

However, my understanding from the experts is that one is allowed

to persuade the sea lions off a dock by intimidation.

One just has to be careful not to use excess intimidation with a

cattle prod or else it might cause the sea lion to attack the

intimidator, who might underestimate the quickness of an 800-pound

sea lion.

I read some interesting letters to the editor yesterday that even

stretched the issue to tie the sea lion problem to Hurricane Katrina.

However, the letter that caught my eye was from Susan Groux of

Newport Beach, with the statement, “ ... with that privilege comes

the responsibility to respect the ocean and the sea life in and

around it.”

My tip of week is to go to the boat show -- the Lido Yacht Expo at

Lido Marina Village, to be exact.

I have had a few inquiries asking about the new docks being built

out into the turning basin at Lido Village. Well, for you land

lubbers, those are the temporary docks for the boat show.

What a logistical challenge. Boat show promoter Duncan McIntosh

has to time everything perfectly with the inside boats arriving

first, then seal off the inner lagoon areas with more docks, and

finally the arrival of the outer boats.

Not to mention the miles of electricity power lines, phone lines

and firewater plumbing that all must be in place before the show

opens for the public.

Saturday at noon will be most exciting time to attend the Lido

Yacht Expo. Why, you wonder? Because I will be broadcasting my radio

show live from the village from noon to 1 p.m., and the Mojitos Band

will be playing from 11:30 am until about 2 p.m.

The Lido Yacht Expo opens its docks Thursday until Sunday evening.

You can go to o7www.lidoyachtexpo.com f7for more information, or

call (949) 757-5959. See you there Saturday, and we will have free

prizes.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit

o7https://www.boathousetv.comf7.