California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) frequently make use of this haul out at Newport's Port Dock 1 while they are visiting Yaquina Bay. During the summer months they migrate to the Channel Islands of southern California to breed. Throughout the rest of the year adult and sub-adult males can often be found in the waters around Newport and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

This camera is monitored by the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network to check for injuries due to entanglements in fishery gear and marine debris. Sea lions periodically come ashore with plastic packing bands wrapped around their necks and fishing lures hanging from their mouths. A capture cage is sometimes deployed at this site to treat entangled sea lions.

The floating docks used by the sea lions are now owned and maintained by a local non-profit group, the Newport Sea Lion Docks Foundation.