|
|
Restoring balance between predators and salmon Columbia River salmon and steelhead face an increasing threat from California sea lions that prey on fish congregated below Bonneville Dam as they wait to move up the fish ladders in early spring . Many of these fish are from threatened and endangered runs protected under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act recognizes that predation by a growing sea lion population can jeopardize salmon and steelhead populations listed under the ESA. The law is specifically designed to help address the imbalance between sea lions and vulnerable fish runs that currently exists in the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam. For four years, wildlife managers from Washington, Oregon have tried, with help from Columbia River tribes and federal partners, to haze the sea lions away from the area below the dam. Despite the deterrence efforts, predation on salmon and steelhead by a robust population of California sea lions has continued to increase. In March 2008, fish and wildlife agencies in Washington, Oregon and Idaho received federal authorization to remove California sea lions that prey on salmon and steelhead below Bonneville Dam. That authorization allows wildlife managers to use lethal measures to remove those animals, but the states’ first priority is to relocate sea lions to zoos and aquariums. After receiving federal approval, state biologists relocated six California sea lions to SeaWorld facilities in Florida and Texas, where they are all reported in good health. Relocation efforts were suspended in early May after six others were inadvertently captured in two unattended traps and died of heat prostration. State wildlife managers plan to resume efforts to remove California sea lions that prey on fish below Bonneville Dam in March 2009. |
|
|
|||
| Find a bug or error in the system? Let
us know about it! © 1997- 2009 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife E-mail: webmaster@dfw.wa.gov |
|
||
