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Making Waves Fall 2020
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
ly euthanized.
The approval also includes tribes that help manage sea lion impacts on the Willamette River.
Bounties and market hunting once drove California sea lions toward extinction, but they rebounded under the protection of the MMPA, now numbering more than 250,000. The eastern stock of Steller sea lions has also increased over the last decade to more than 70,000 animals.
The authorization allows for removal of up to 540 California sea lions and 176 Steller sea lions over the next five years. The numbers are based on:
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Recommendations from the Task Force
More Information
Protected Salmon and Steelhead on the West • Information in the application describing the Coast risk to salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and eulachon Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of Expected benefits to these fish from sea lion re2018 movals MMPA Section 120 Pinniped Removal Program Unless a zoo or aquarium is interested in taking the sea lions that are removed, they are humane- Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force
Is the Lack of Fish in New England Waters Due to Overfishing or Over Population of Seals, Dogfish & Commorants? by Capt Mike Pierdinock - circa 2017
S
ome claim that the lack of forage fish and other select species near shore is a result of overfishing, climate change, habitat destruction and other environmental factors one or any combination of which may be the culprit. One of the problems with fishery management is that in many cases the fishery is not managed to take into consideration localized conditions with species management encompassing many states or the entire coast. For instance in Massachusetts (and elsewhere) we are plagued with a booming seal, dogfish and cormorant population. These species have to eat to survive and they are certainly doing so. Is the lack of forage fish and oth-
er select species a result of these water bound vacuum cleaners that eat everything in sight? The federal and state agencies that mange and regulate these species can point to success stories associated with the rebound or increase in population of seals, dogfish and cormorants or as we refer to them as “fish eating machines.” There doesn’t appear to be lack of suitable habitat and food for these species resulting in booming populations. The problem with these species is lack of predators to control them so they will not have a detrimental impact on our fishery. Let’s go over some compelling evidence described below.
