Hi New Zealand sea lions are currently caught in high numbers (150 animals in the 2005/06 fishing season) in squid trawl nets in the NZ sub-Antarctic. SLEDs (sea lion exclusion devices) are used within this fishery - however there is currently no effective underwater monitoring mechanisms in place to determine strike or escape rate. A video capable of filming at low light is currently being investigated - as are light sources - white, red and infra-red light. None of these light sources have been tested on NZ sea lions to determine their degree of attraction / avoidance or neutrality. This email is to ask for information / ideas on wild seal/sea lion behavioural experiments that have tested reactions of animals to light sources both on land and in water and how to measure "reactions". Preferably not captive / feeding trials as there are no captive NZ sea lions in the world, however if you think it will help to design a study please send them through. Thank you Louise Dr. B. Louise Chilvers Marine Mammal Scientist Marine Conservation Unit Department of Conservation P.O. Box 10-420 Wellington Ph 04 4713073 Fax 04 4713041 Email lchilvers@doc.govt.nz ############################################## This e-mail (and attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. ##############################################