More than 1,000 sea lions gathered at SF’s Pier 39 this week, the largest herd in more than a decade

Officials say a record number of sea lions have gathered this week at San Francisco’s Pier 39, one of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions (or tourist hotspots, depending on who you ask).

Pier 39 harbor master Sheila Chandor counted more than a thousand sea lions there this week, according to the Associated Press, the highest number in fifteen years. Normally there are about 300 to 400 sea lions in winter, but in spring there can be up to 700.

They are said to be flocking to the harbor to feast on above-average populations of anchovies and herring before the mating season begins next month.

“They are preparing for mating season,” Chandor told the AP. “It’s spring. They’re ready to rock and roll in the Channel Islands, and we’re a fun pit stop with delicious seafood.”

In the Channel Islands, nomadic male sea lions find families to mate with. The animals migrate along the coast every year, first appearing at Pier 39 after the 1989 earthquake, according to NPR. The piers had been rebuilt after being damaged, but the boats had not yet docked and sea lions were moving in. Marine biologists are still trying to figure out why it is such a hotspot, but it could be due to the fact that the water in the bay is warmer and attracts higher concentrations of fish.

Regardless, the herd drew large crowds of tourists this week, and owners of nearby stores and restaurants reported increased revenue from foot traffic. There may be one small problem, however: Sea lions can weigh as much as half a ton, and city officials also told AP that the ships where sea lions typically rest were not intended to carry a weight above a certain limit. The recent increase in sea lion numbers is apparently testing them.

Feature image via Getty Images/angelique herder.