A life-size sculpture of a well-known local sea lion may be installed at the eastern end of the Saint Clair esplanade.

The sculpture is likely to be commissioned by the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust.

It's asked the Dunedin City Council for permission to have the sculpture installed, to honour the sea lion known as "Mum".

This year marks the 20th anniversary of native sea lions returning to breed on the New Zealand mainland.

"Mum" was a sea lion that frequented Dunedin's coastline, breeding several pups at Taieri Mouth.

Each year she swam her pups in front of Saint Clair, on route to the peninsula.