Too Many Protected Predators

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs The approval also includes tribes that help manage sea lion impacts on the Willamette River. 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:

Recommendations from the Task Force

• Information in the application describing the risk to salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and eulachon Expected benefits to these fish from sea lion removals

Unless a zoo or aquarium is interested in taking the sea lions that are removed, they are humane

Some 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 othly euthanized. 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.

More Information

Protected Salmon and Steelhead on the West Coast

Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2018

MMPA Section 120 Pinniped Removal Program 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 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.

The most recent assessment pegs gray seal populations on just Cape Cod at over 50,000 individuals.

Gray Seals In the early 2000 timeframe our striped bass population had returned to healthy levels and anglers enjoyed striped bass throughout. At that time a population of approximately 1,500 gray seals was found around Monomy Island and the Chatham area of Cape Cod. As of today there is an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 gray seals inhabiting the north and south shore of Massachusetts, Cape Cod area and the Islands. The increase in seal population appears to correspond to the healthy population of striped bass and subsequently other species such as cod and haddock in the early to mid 2000 timeframe. This food source and suitable habitat with the lack of predators to prey on the gray seals has resulted in a booming gray seal population. To no surprise, an increase in the seal population has resulted in the return of great white sharks to our waters looking for a tasty meal. Needles to say the gray seal population has significantly increased; great white shark sightings are bountiful near shore and the striped bass population near shore is now lacking. The population of great white sharks is not at a level to cull or control the booming seal population.

According to the National Marine Fishery Service (“NMFS”) a gray seal consume 4 to 6 % of their body weight per day. A mature 800 pound male gray seal can eat 32 to 48 pounds of fish per day. Let’s conservatively assess how many pounds of fish they eat per year? Assume an average of weight of a seal @ 400 pounds with a fish consumption rate of 4 to 6% of their body per weight/day. This equals 16 to 24 pounds of fish ingested per seal/day. Lets assess the impact to our fishery as a result of 1,500 seals (early 2000) to 16,000 seals (2016) today.

Year 2000 - Population of 1,500 gray seals consume 8.7 million to 13 million pounds or 4,380 tons to 6,570 tons of fish per year Year 2016 - Population of 16,000 gray seals consume 93 million to 140, million pounds or 46,720 tons to 70,080 tons of fish per year. Year 2020 - Population of 50,000 gray seals consume 292 million to 438 million pounds of fish per year.

Wow! Did the striped bass population in early 2000 and subsequently cod, haddock, mackerel

and herring provide the food source for a boomproposed to cull 70,000 gray seals in the Gulf of St ing population of gray seals? We have watched a Lawrence over a four year period in an attempt to reduction in our striped bass population and herconserve the cod stock. The European Union has ring near shore since early 2000 to 2016. Last also proposed gray seal culling west of Scotland year the annual striped bass quota for Massachuas a result of the detrimental impact of the gray setts was reduced by 25%. How many pounds of seal on the cod fish population. Has the time arstriped bass are the seals eating per year? I am rived for a gray seal cull? sure that they are not the sole source or cause of the reduction but the numbers speak for themDogfish self. The increase in food demand for seals had to Gray seals are not the only culprit. The next fish come from somewhere? eating machine is dogfish. We have observed In general, I have observed a shift in the location dogfish by the hundreds near as well as off shore of striped bass into deeper water the last few there is no lack of them and they are a nuisance years. In the early 2000 timeframe the majority of to catch and destroy our nets, line and tackle. striped bass that I landed would be in 30 to 40 Live or dead bait will be stripped clean of the feet of water. The past few years I am encounterhook before your bait hits bottom since they typiing them in 80 to 100 feet of water. I have encally are found in schools. When fishing for cod countered them by the hundreds and caught and haddock use of a baited hook is not possible them as bycatch while fishing for tuna or sharks once they arrive by the hundreds in our waters. far offshore beyond the EEZ where they are conBaited hooks never hit them bottom where the sidered a game fish and need to be returned to cod and haddock are found since they get live another day. Near shore recreational anglers stripped clean well before nearing the zone or and charter boat vessels observe gray seals rebottom where cod and haddock is located. The sponding like “pavlovs dogs” when they hear the same can be said with live or dead mackerel or engine of the boat they wait for the hookup and bunker when fishing for tuna or striped bass. strip the striped bass, bluefish or whatever select They are opportunistic feeders and have a voraspecies right from the hook. cious appetite eating whatever prey is abundant There are many other environmental factors that and butcher our mackerel, herring cod and hadhave impacted our striped bass population that dock. Depending upon the study their daily inare well documented but the federal and state regulators do not want to address this topic. Gray seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Culling was a common practice back in the day to keep the population at bay. Our federal and state regulators do not want to touch this matter since it a political hornet nest with the NGOs and the public that love the cute cuddly gray seals. In our world this is not the case they are varmints. Dogfish are believed to be the most populous species of fish The Canadian Government has in the North Atlantic, yet they remain protected by NOAA.

gestion rate ranges from 0.25 to 2% of body weight that ranges from 7 to 15 lbs. Studies have recognized their devastating impact on forage fish as well as cod, haddock and other species. Some reports estimate that 70% of the juvenile cod in our waters are ingested by dogfish. Cormorants

The last fishing eating machine are cormorants that are in general, found near shore as well as inland throughout the Unites States, Canada and throughout the world ingesting fish typically less than 6 inches in size. We see them butchering our forage fish or juvenile fish in our shallow waters or tributaries. Fish farms throughout the United States and elsewhere are plagued with them. Their daily fish ingestion rate fish typically ranges 1 to 1.5 lbs. of fish per day. This adds up when they are picking off juvenile fluke/flounder/ haddock or other species in our waters. They eat and desiccate constantly there no doubt when you find their roosting areas and guano well deposited where they hang out and spend their day. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There are many states in the Unites States and Provinces in Canada that permit the culling of cormorants due to their detrimental impact to the fishery. Has the time come? Whether we are dealing with cute or cuddly fish or game they can quickly become varmints that need a culling when they impact you personally. But for those that live on that rose flower covered mountain top well beyond our shores the gray seal, dogfish and cormorants that butcher our fishery need to be protected. We need action by federal and state regulatory agencies to work together to deal with this problem and consider the impact of these critters on our fisheries.

In areas of New England and southern Canada cormorants literally blacken the sky with their vast numbers. During migration periods amassed flocks can stretch to the horizon.