Days may be numbered for problem sea lions

KATU 2 ^ | April 3, 2006 | Brian Barker

[george76]

Despite bombs, boats and rubber bullets, dozens of sea lions are continuing to kill salmon near the Bonneville Dam.

This month, biologists are trying one last time to scare off the problem sea lions, but if that doesn't work, they may try to kill them.

Sea lions could kill as much as 10 percent of this spring's salmon run and biologists say if they cannot get the problem solved soon, the situation could get ugly.

The problem is that the salmon are disappearing. An estimated 8,000 salmon will be lost this spring at Bonneville Dam.

"The difficult part about it is we're trying to save the endangered salmon as they are going up past the dam, but you've got the Marine Mammal Protection Act that protects these marine mammals," says Bob Stansell, a Biologist with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The biggest violator is sea lion C-404. He has managed to penetrate the fish ladder at Bonneville Dam.

Biologists say there are nearly 1,000 other sea lions hunting salmon in the Columbia River ...

[george76]

May the local Indians hunt the sea lions legally ?

[fish hawk]

Sea lions go where they want and that is were ever there is an easy catch of fish. I have seen Sea lions up river from the mouth of the Klamath for 40 miles or more.

[fish hawk]

The answer is no. My tribe has been trying to kill sea lions for years but they are under Federal protection not state.

[fish hawk]

Get a clue. Salmon are a FOOD FISH. Sea lions are a predator and useless. People protect them because they are "cute". Maybe you should read more instead of watching TV.

[connectthedots]

Heard on the radio today that sea lions eat the salmon after they have been hooked by fishermen.

[tubebender]

Do you have a picture of the rock off the mouth of the Klamath that is covered with Sea Lions?

[tubebender]

I was fishing with my BiL off of Valdez Ak and a Sea Lion took 6 of our fish we had hooked. They take one bite and move to the next one. We moved the boat to lose him but he just followed us. My Bil pulled up near a party boat and the SL went after their fish and we moved on and caught fish.

[Max in Utah]

it might take a while to respond to all the comments there are a few, one guy's got chickens so he's a sea lion expert i guess...

No, I'm more like a predator expert, smart guy. See, it works like this: sea lions are predators; humans are inclined to kill predators who complete with them for food sources.

Read it a couple of times, maybe you can grasp the principle.

[kinoxi]

interesting point, but i don't watch tv. i take it you kill sea lions for fun right?

[kinoxi]

if they lived on only salmon...

[fish hawk]

No but I've seen them there by the hundreds. If I was to shoot sea lions it would not be with a camera. LOL

[Max in Utah]

Don't kill ME! My great-granny was Cherokee!

:)

[fish hawk]

Cherokees were the best lovers in the world. I hardly know a soul that is not from Cherokee stock. LOL

[taxesareforever]

I don't doubt it for a minute.

[Max in Utah]

Cherokees were the best lovers in the world.

No, just the most hard-working!

[Porterville]

cook 'em up and serve them in a barrita.

[kinoxi]

hmmmm.....

[kinoxi]

no desire to fix the problem...

[garylmoore]

Kill em, they get hungry and want to eat!