Abstract

The Open Water Research Program was a unique collaborative effort between the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Aquarium, focused around four adult female Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) housed in sea pens in Burrard Inlet, British Columbia from 2003 to 2019. The program was originally funded by U.S. federal grants to help investigate the significant decline of the endangered western population of Steller sea lions, and most of its projects had a direct conservation goal. It also proved an invaluable resource among international researchers for pure discovery science. The animals were trained for a variety of untethered open water research behaviors, including: diving up to 50 m; foraging on controlled prey patches; maintaining dives for set amounts of time; carrying a variety of instruments; voluntary blood collection, including immediately after dives; voluntary ultrasound; and breathing on request into gas collection equipment. These and many other behaviors allowed for unprecedented insight into the physiology, energetics, and foraging ecology of this species. This work directly resulted in over 30 peer-reviewed publications, 7 graduate student theses, and employed 3 post-doctoral research fellows. These publications have been extensively cited in species recovery plans, including the National Marine Fisheries Service 2008 Recovery Plan for the Steller Sea Lion. The program allowed for the calibration of multiple devices later deployed on free-ranging sea lions, including heart rate monitors, accelerometers, and phytoplankton detectors. One of the last major findings showed that the traditional model of aerobic dive limit does not reflect physiologic realities. The Open Water Research Program was a rare collaborative research effort between a public display aquarium and a large university; a unique model capitalizing on scientific, training, and veterinary expertise that ensured both maximum scientific output and outstanding animal welfare. It was one of very few programs working with trained marine mammals in the open ocean, and the only Steller sea lion program of its kind in the world. Unfortunately, funding and logistic issues eventually forced this invaluable program to be closed in late 2019.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all of the incredible staff, students, and researchers that were fortunate enough to work at Open Water and who were so instrumental in its success.

*Presenting author