FISHING -- Six California sea lions have been killed to protect endangered salmon crossing Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, the Associated Press reports.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Jessica Sall says the six were among some 20 sea lions that have been hanging around the dam as chinook salmon start their spawning run. People in boats and on shore harass the sea lions to discourage their feeding, but the department is allowed to kill up to 30 a year. Last year two were killed and two sent to a zoo. 

The six that were trapped and euthanized recently are the first to be killed under the permit this year.

Lower Columbia fishermen have seen many of their catches devoured by sea lions before the fish can be netted.  But the pinnipeds pose a serious threat to endangered chinook salmon stocks when they can ambush the fish at man-made river bottlenecks such as the fish ladders at the dams.

Of course, the Humane Society of the United States has been trying to stop the practice, arguing sea lions kill fewer fish than people, the dams and loss of habitat. But a federal appeals court last year upheld the practice.

HSUS spokespeople are quoted and allowed to voice their outrage in several stories I see by area news outlets including Northwest Public Radio. But none of those reports quotes a fisherman, guide, tackle shop owner, motel owner, boat salesman or restaurant waitress on the importance of salmon fishing to their livelihoods.