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| NOAA |
Sea lions eat less than 4 percent of salmon at
Bonneville Dam. |
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for killing six federally protected sea lions on the Columbia River along the Washington-Oregon border.
Four California sea lions protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and two Steller sea lions protected under both the MMPA and the Endangered Species Act were found dead on May 3. Investigators initially reported that the animals had been shot, although a full and credible investigation by unaffiliated scientists is warranted
The cold-blooded killing took place inside closed traps set out by Oregon and Washington fisheries agents. These traps were part of a boondoggle government program to remove sea lions on grounds they are eating a share of the river's salmon. The animals had no chance to escape their assassins.
The HSUS has challenged the trapping program in court as being irrational in light of other much higher sources of salmon mortality, like fishing and dams.
A federal appeals court responded by issuing an order preventing government killing of sea lions. Then, following the brazen slaughter of these six animals, The HSUS and Wild Fish Conservancy subsequently signed an agreement with the federal and state governments to halt further trapping until the lawsuit is resolved.
About this same time, a seventh sea lion was discovered dead further downriver.
"The cruel killing of defenseless sea lions left vulnerable in government traps should mark the final chapter in this sad story of blaming sea lions for salmon declines in the Northwest," said Michael Markarian, The HSUS' executive vice president.
Days after the killings, federal officials said their preliminary investigation into the cause of death was inconclusive. But because the government is party to the dispute over sea lions, a definitive inquest must be conducted immediately by outside experts to insure public confidence in the results of the investigation.
The Case:
News reports give the following account: Four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were discovered dead about noon Sunday floating in two government traps downriver from Bonneville Dam. The sea lions had apparently been shot, according to a government agent at the scene. The killing carries penalties of up to $20,000 and one year in federal prison for each animal protected under the MMPA, and up to $50,000 and one year in prison for each animal protected by the ESA.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the NMFS Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964.
