Fishing line noose

Jessica, due to the smallish post size I don't see the line, however this has the potential to be a very enlightening educational tool! If this were posted at every dock or bait shop, I would think there would be far fewer fishermen/people cutting off and abandoning their used monofilament. I hope! Strong image of a less than idyllic scene.
Bruce

So sad. In a larger size where you could see that the seal is dead and that the fishing line killed it, this would definitely tell the story.

Here's a larger version.

Jessica, the dead sea lion with the flies gathered and the strand of line extending across its cheek is a powerful image all by itself.

Without the back story I'd not have been certain I was looking at fishing line, because of the somewhat distant view. I don't know the circumstances and whether you could have gotten closer, but until I saw the repost I wasn't sure, and I'm still not really sure, if it even is fishing line along the cheek (it could be a prominent whisker). I'd initially wondered whether the collar of sheen around the neck may have been wrapped fishing line, but the closer image seems to indicate that's just reflected light off the fur, and the only fishing line visible appears to be the strand across the cheek.

I see either a wider or a closer view as having more impact. A wider view, taking in the overall surroundings, would put the sea lion in the context of its environment, though it would require an explanatory photo caption for understanding, as is often the case in photojournalism. A closer view of full face and neck, with just some of the flies and possible more prominence for the fishing line, would potentially had enough impact to stand alone.

I'm with Steve on the difficulty of seeing the important detail, Jessica. That looks like a whisker across the cheek, but it also looks as though we're getting reflections off the hide along the depression in the neck made by the fishing line rather than seeing the line itself. The light and framing on this are excellent, while it would be strengthened by a glimpse of the fishing line.

Between this and your post of the monk seal, I really like what you're working with. Marine mammal protection is more than an abstract concept when we're confronted with visual evidence. I hope you're recognizing our careful view and comments as support for what you're up to!

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. I will try to get better glimpses of the fishing line itself next time I am photographing this issue, which unfortunately will be easy because I see this on multiple animals every time I go to the harbor.

And that's both a sad insight and meaningful recognition of the problem--- that the opportunities are so consistent rather than rare. It makes me wonder if someday a collection of your photos won't make a really powerful display, whether as a collection of individual prints or a collage of images on a poster addressing the problem.

Keep up the good work!