Feds Renew Sea Lion Cull to Save Columbia River Salmon
Published Date: 3/28/2025
Notice
Summary
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and several Native tribes want to renew their permit to humanely remove certain sea lions harming endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River area. The permit, which lets them remove specific sea lions by lethal means, would be extended for five more years starting when the new permit is issued. This helps protect fish populations without changing current rules or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
5‑Year Renewal for Lethal Sea‑Lion Removal
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and several Native tribes have asked to renew a permit that lets eligible state agencies and tribes intentionally remove (by lethal methods) individually identifiable California sea lions and Eastern‑stock Steller sea lions in the Columbia River between river mile 112 (I‑205 bridge) and McNary Dam (river mile 292), or in tributaries with spawning habitat for threatened or endangered salmon/steelhead. The request seeks to renew the existing August 14, 2020 permit (which expires August 14, 2025) for an additional five years, with no changes to the permit’s terms and conditions other than the renewal period.
Intended Protection for Endangered Salmon and Steelhead
The permit renewal is intended to help protect threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River area by allowing targeted removal of sea lions that harm those fish. The applicants state this renewal would extend existing protections for fish populations without changing current rules or costs.
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