On May 18th, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gave the departments of fish and wildlife in the States of Oregon and Washington permission to add six more sea lions to the list of animals whom they are allowed to kill for the crime of eating fish. These animals are, according to the latest Letter of Authority from NOAA to the States:
C667 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 7 days in 2010 with 10 documented salmonids
consumed.
C841 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 5 days in 2010 with 3 documented salmonids
consumed.
B317 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 6 days in 2010 with 18 documented salmonids
consumed.
B318 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 5 days in 2010 with 23 documented salmonids
consumed.
B325 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 7 days in 2010 with 2 documented
salmonids consumed.
5490 – Observed in the tailrace of the dam on 8 days in 2010 with 4 documented salmonids
consumed.
Of special concern, three of the animals are “B” animals, meaning that they do not have brands. Since the government already has a history of mis-identifying even animals with large brands on their bodies, we are very concerned at their insistence that they are able to accurately identify hundreds of animals who are not branded. This is especially disconcerting, given that the observers at the dam who are responsible for gathering the data to put these animals on the hit list are student trainees. According to Robert Stansell of the Army Corps of Engineers, these student observers begin generating data that can lead to the deaths of sea lions after less than a week of training. Many of these people have never even seen a sea lion before, and have no prior experience identifying them. This, again, is according to Robert Stansell, whose agency is responsible for collecting this data.
Our concern is that, since it is very difficult to capture specific animals, and since no one outside of the people doing the killing has access to the records demonstrating how each animal is identified, they could be claiming that any unbranded animal who winds up in one of their traps is one of the animals on their list. They do have a history of this already (see the case of “Willy,” branded C657, for example here: http://sealiondefensebrigade.org/?p=262 here: https://publish.portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/04/389676.shtml?discuss and here: http://ida.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3662.0&printer_friendly=1).
It would be very difficult for anyone to ever catch them at this, since the public has no access to their records, and since the mainstream media is failing to ask any questions about this program.
Another concern, of course, is that the public was repeatedly told that the only sea lions to be killed would be “the worst offenders,” or sea lions responsible for eating many, many salmon. If you look at this list, you will note that most of the animals listed here are guilty of eating 10 or fewer fish, and several have only been seen eating 2 or 3 fish. Given how many endangered salmon are hauled out into the many gill nets that are, incredibly, still allowed to ply the waters of the Columbia, this hardly seems to be a case of “worst offenders.” It seems to be a matter of convenience. Any sea lion seen eating even one fish at the dam can be added to their list, and indeed, there are several sea lions on the hit list who are there for eating one or two fish. At least one animal has already been killed for this crime.
Finally, we continue to feel frustration and outrage that NOAA has raised fishing quotas to increase human predation on salmon every single year that the sea lion killing program has been in effect. Since the program began a few years ago, fishing quotas rose from 9% to 13% and now, this year, to an astonishing 16% of the run. This is far greater than the number of fish attributed to sea lion predation, which is expected to be around 2% of the run this year. So clearly, this program is not about “saving” salmon, as has been repeatedly claimed in the media. If the goal were really about saving endangered spring Chinook salmon, then fishing quotas would have, at the very least, been capped. If they were really serious, they would have declared a moratorium on fishing on the Columbia. But of course, they did not. They merely began scapegoating sea lions.
[Update to this story: Sadly, two of the animals on this list have already been killed. C667 and C841, as of May 26th, are dead.]
This list and program is so messed up–I seriously doubt that these trainee observers can identify unmarked animals or marked ones for that matter – eating fish–this happens in a split second there is a lot of water spray, a lot of birds, sometimes other sea lions, and most of the time these animals 90% submerged under water–so how can some trainee observer perched way up high on the dam identify individual animals in a split second–It is impossible –this a another case of the FOX guarding the Hen House.
i think humans killing more animals of the sea or anywhere for that matter, other than reptiles or snakes, should remember that they were put here on earth for a reason too, and for them to think they have the right to do that is appalling to animal life and that gives me a thought, hey people are just as bad if not worse as any animal, they stink too and in most cases are as worthless as the dirt on the ground, i dont think God gave man the right to kill animals without the thought of eating them to stay alive, if not, anyone who kills animals for the soul purpose because they are eating to stay alive then man deserves to extinguish themselves for killing animals to stay alive. God be with you, because in the end you will pay just because of your intelligence, duh!!!!
[Editor’s note: Thanks!!! (I humbly suggest that even reptiles and snakes are put on this earth for a reason, and probably love their lives as much as we do.)
When is the goverment going to stop messing with nature. There is a reason for everything and when you mess with nature it will be the end of our earth!! Shame on our goverment
I, a United States citizen, am appalled that our tax dollars are being used for something so inhumane. These tax dollars could be funnelled to the Gulf of Mexico disaster to help our fellow Americans and wildlife, not for the killing of sea lions who are defenseless! Send the trainees to the Gulf where they can be utilized correctly!! This government really needs a wake up call.
Who gives these people and the government the right to play God? This is the reason this planet is going down everywere,because mankind is destroying it by constantly killing creatures that God created the natural swing of things. Its all about money it always is. Leave nature alone,that means these poor defenceless sealions that only consume%2 of samon.Quit killing this wonderful planet,before were all dead.