Panel expected to OK killing of sea lions

PORTLAND – A federal task force is expected to recommend next week that pesky California sea lions gobbling up threatened salmon at Bonneville Dam be killed in order to help conserve Columbia River fish runs.

Biologists have tried various methods to chase away the hungry marine mammals. But all attempts have failed – including setting off underwater firecrackers.

“The best and most sincere efforts to dissuade these creatures with nonlethal measures just have not worked,” said U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., who has led a bipartisan effort with U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., to find a solution.

“The recommendation by the 18-member panel was being reviewed before a final draft was to be released after a Monday deadline. It follows a request by Oregon, Washington and Idaho for federal approval to kill the sea lions.

Only one member of the broad-based task force objected – Sharon Young of the Humane Society of the United States.

Young said killing sea lions attacks only a tiny part of the overall salmon conservation problem, and they will simply be replaced by more hungry sea lions who will find their way to the dam after their competition is gone.

The recommendation goes to NOAA Fisheries for consideration and a decision that is not expected until March.

Garth Griffin, the NOAA Fisheries biologist in Portland handling the recommendation, emphasized it will be only part of a final decision made after a review of biological and legal issues by the agency’s staff.

But he noted that nonlethal measures appear to have been exhausted.

“We have tried them going back to the 80s, and the feeling was there was no technique that had not been tried yet,” Griffin said.

Any decision could be challenged in court, but Baird and Hastings argued any delay would only cause more damage to fish runs.

“Lethal methods aren’t anyone’s first choice, it’s the last resort when all else has failed,” Hastings said.