Sea lion killing authorized
March 18th, 2008
Killing of sea lions snacking on endangered salmon has been approved by the federal government.
A federal agency has authorized the “intentional legal taking” of individually identified California sea lions that prey on migrating salmon and steelhead at the base of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.
[…]
The sea lions at the base of the dam, by some estimates, take up to 4 percent of the spring chinook run headed upriver to spawn, depending on the size of the run.
Opponents of the kill have said sea lions are a highly visible and politically convenient target when the real problem lies elsewhere, such as the hydroelectric dams. The Humane Society of the United States and other groups cite other hurdles facing fish, such as the deterioration of spawning grounds, bird predation of salmon smolts headed to the ocean and agricultural runoff and other pollution.
How do I feel about this?
Well, given the HUGE predation by sea lions on salmon, this is good news. Salmon are highly endangered, particularly some of the runs that are targeted by the sea lions. Some of these sea lions are now hanging out at Willamette Falls!
Then again, besides those factors mentioned in the quote above, one has to wonder WHY this is happening… could this in part be because the salmon are forced to congregate below Bonneville Dam, which, if it didn’t exist, wouldn’t prompt sea lions to come upriver?
Then again, has the decimation of sea lion predators (sharks, etc) lead to expansion of CALIFORNIA sea lions natural range… indeed, the northernmost range of these pinnipeds used to be, well, northern California. True, one jaw bone was found in a midden pile in Washington, but that is hardly proof that they once were this far north.
Then again, has the decimation of natural sea lion food (rock fish, etc) lead to further exploration of sea lions UP rivers?
So how is it all going to go down?
The order says the sea lions can be killed by a qualified marksman, who may shoot the animals at short range with shotguns loaded with 00 buckshot or at greater distances using a hunting rifle with ammunition of a minimum caliber of .240.
Update: Per The Oregonian:
The order says sea lions captured in traps must be held for at least 48 hours to allow a search for a home in captivity before they are euthanized. It identifies about 60 sea lions “authorized for immediate removal.”
Want a sea lion?
And, wait, I don’t totally understand? So you have to capture and hold the sea lion? And then if a home isn’t found, you go and blast it in the face with a shotgun? Hmm. Surely there is a bit less, uh, bloody way to kill a trapped, caged animal?
More interesting points:
Salmon and sea lions are protected species. But California sea lion numbers are booming, while many Northwest salmon species are struggling. The sea lion population, about 1,000 animals in the 1930s, now numbers about 238,000 along the West Coast. Biologists think the animals have maxed out available breeding sites and habitat.
[…]
Hudson said state and tribal biologists estimate sea lions may consume 13 percent to 17 percent of spring chinook salmon passing through the dam.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Let’s hope that the State acts quickly and expediently to remove ALL sea lions from Bonneville Dam.
Related posts: The Feds successfully bribe tribes to back off Columbia river complaints, The vanishing mussels of Fanno Creek, Arrowhead water, Nestle, and the degradation of the environment
2 Comments Add your own
1. joseph | March 30th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
as a native american, we have the soverignty rigths to hunt these sea lions under treaties rigths, so give us the rights to kill these sea loin for food and skins.
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