Timaru residents Paul Annear and wife - Timaru District Council Mayor Janie Annear - had a close encounter with a sea lion in Otago Harbour on Tuesday when it tried to climb into their boat near Harwood.
"We were trawling for salmon and I was sitting in the back seat of the boat when I heard a snorting noise," Mr Annear said.
"I looked behind me to see this sea lion mounting itself on to the ladder platform on the back of the boat. As you can imagine, I almost pooped myself."
Doc ranger Graeme Loh, of Dunedin, said the sea lion most likely tried to get on the Annears' boat because it was looking for food.
The marine mammals were becoming increasingly comfortable and inquisitive around humans because so many fishermen were feeding them offal or off-cuts from their catches.
He said it had become a major problem in parts of Australia where sea lions had managed to climb right into boats in search of food.
"It's amazing it hasn't happened here yet.
"So far, we've been lucky that there have been no serious injuries caused by sea lions."
While the Annears had not been feeding the sea lion, other fishermen in Otago Harbour had, and it was putting others like the Annears at risk.
"We don't want people to feed or play with them because they become too familiar with humans.
If that happens, it could become really dangerous.
"It's possible they could sink a small boat.
"They are so much more powerful than we are. You have to respect them as a wild animal."
