Posted on 03/18/2008 8:01:33 PM PDT by george76
TRAPS, pyrotechnics and beanbags shot at sea lions have failed to deter the annual springtime feast of threatened salmon at a northwestern US dam...
The National Marine Fisheries Service authorised Oregon and Washington state officials to first attempt to catch the sea lions that arrive at the base of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River and hold them 48 hours to see whether an aquarium, zoo or similar facility will take them. Otherwise, they could be euthanised, along with those that avoid trapping.
About 60 of the California sea lions, identified by branding, scars or other markings, were deemed the worst offenders and qualify for 'immediate removal.'
One, branded C404, became something of a celebrity because of his ability to work his way into the fish ladders of the dam, and even into the window where upriver-bound salmon are counted to determine the size of later runs. Many sea lions have been coming to the dams for years.
Fidelia Andy, chairwoman of the Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission, said the order 'was the right decision at the right time' and asked for 'the public's patience and support while management activities proceed.' The ruling followed three meetings of a task force comprising commercial and sport fishermen, treaty tribes and animal rights interests.
Sea lion populations have soared since they and other marine mammals were covered under the 1972 act. They numbered about 1,000 in the 1930s... They are thought to number about 240,000 today.
(Excerpt) Read more at straitstimes.com ...
Maybe they can can up the sea lions, yummie!
You see a fish ladder. Your friend the sea lion sees a free buffet.
Are sea lions good eatin’?
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission commended the federal decision
Lets stay away from the fish tonight honey.
Does that headline bother anyone else here?
Paging naked, caged PETA activists...
Yep.
Yup :
Nice of the feds to allow us to ...
/s
Termination. Neutralization. Sanction.
Any other good euphemisms?
Hey. These pups are supposed to be pretty smart. So why not post signs on the rock levies etc., stating No Fishing.
Salmon: The other pink meat.
Somewhere in California lurks a peculiar federal judge just waiting to issue a writ of a certiorari at the behest of some ACLU type who moonlights for PETA.
I think it was pretty clear this would eventually happen, it’s just a shame it took the time that it did. They could have saved a lot of salmon by acting sooner.
The iron law of unintended consequences strikes again.
“Does that headline bother anyone else here?”
Yes, but I worked for newspapers for years, and most people don’t realize a writer does not usually control what headline is placed above a story. A danged editor, or whoever is in charge of layout, does. And these are oftentimes people who read a few paragraphs of a story and place their own bias and agenda into a headline that has to fit into so many picas.
I hope the professional biologists, the ones who aren’t recent graduates of touchy feely wildlife management, aka “Send us money to save animals,” Humane Society of the U.S., types do allow for sound wildlife management.
What is hilarious is that those types want dams, human progress removed to save something, without considering the fact we don’t live in the freaking “Garden of Eden,” anymore, so mankind has no choice but manage the balance of nature.
I think we need to release all the “problem” bears, seals, cougars, and other beautiful animals at the PETA and HSUS headquarters, and let them deal with it.
“The iron law of unintended consequences strikes again.”
Boy you nailed it right on the head.
Wish I could say so much in so few words and make a point like that!!!!
On behalf of good Californians, I apologize for the unacceptable behavior of our sea lions. I vote "death penalty." ;-)
That's an innovative idea but PETA would have a problem getting rid of the bears and cougars after they euthanized them, they wouldn't be able to get them into super market dumpters like they do the cats and dogs.
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