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1 1 (December 12, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govyck0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Intorm~ng the legislative debate since 1914 0 December 12, 2018 Sea Lion Predation on Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Since the 1990s, concerns have grown about sea lion predation on Columbia River salmon and steelhead (salmonids). Management of these species has been complicated by requirements to protect sea lion populations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. §§1361 et seq.) while maintaining efforts to recover salmonid populations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. §§1531 et seq.). Sea lion populations have increased since enactment of the MMPA in 1972. In the Columbia River Basin, 13 salmonid runs now are listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. During the 115th Congress, several bills were introduced that would provide greater flexibility for lethal removal of sea lions in specific segments of the Columbia River and its tributaries. One of these bills, S. 3119, has passed the Senate and the House. Background Sea Lion and Salmonid Populations Over the last several decades, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and the eastern population of Stellar sea lions (Eumetopiasjubatus) that inhabit the U.S. West Coast have steadily increased. The California sea lion population has never been listed under the ESA and is estimated to be within the range of its optimum sustainable population (OSP). OSP is defined as the number of animals that will result in the maximum productivity of the population of the species. The eastern population of Stellar sea lions was delisted from the ESA in 2013 and likely is within the range of its OSP. Salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) are anadromous fish, meaning they hatch and begin life in freshwater rivers and lakes, migrate to the ocean, where they mature, and return to their river of origin to spawn. The current run sizes of wild salmonids in the Columbia Basin are a small fraction of historic levels. From January through May of each year, the bulk of salmonids consumed by sea lions in the vicinity of Bonneville Dam are spring Chinook and winter steelhead. Sea lions also prey upon other Columbia River salmon runs and other species, such as sturgeon, eulachon, and Pacific lamprey. In the 1990s, increasing numbers of California sea lions were observed in the lower Columbia River. By 2000, sea lions were observed at Bonneville Dam and, more recently, at the base of Willamette Falls. Sea lions prey upon salmonids, especially in areas where the returning fish gather to pass through areas where river flows are constricted, such as near fish ladders or at the base of rapids. Predation of salmon and steelhead immediately below Bonneville Dam (146 miles above the mouth of the Columbia River) has been increasing (Table 1). Since 2004, Stellar sea lions have consumed a growing portion of salmonids preyed upon by sea lions in the vicinity of Bonneville Dam. Table I. Consumption Estimates on Salmonids by California and Steller Sea Lions (January-May) Bonneville Total Percentage Salmonid Salmonids Salmonid Year Passage Consumed Run 2002 284,732 1,010 0.4% 2003 217,934 2,329 1.1% 2004 186,771 3,533 1.9% 2005 81,252 2,920 3.4% 2006 105,063 3,401 3.1% 2007 88,474 4,355 4.7% 2008 147,558 4,927 3.2% 2009 186,056 4,960 2.7% 2010 267,167 6,321 2.4% 2011 223,380 3,970 1.8% 2012 171,665 2,360 1.4% 2013 120,619 2,928 2.4% 2014 219,929 4,621 2.1% 2015 239,326 10,859 4.3% 2016 154,074 9,525 5.8% 2017 109,040 5,384 4.7% Source: Tidwell et al., Evaluation of Pinniped Predation on Adult Salmonids and Other Fish in the Bonneville Dam Tailrace, 201 7, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, March 5, 2017. Notes: The data are for adult salmonids (adults and jacks) and include wild and hatchery fish. Deterrence and Removal of Sea Lions MMPA Requirements The MMPA prohibits any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States from taking marine mammals, including sea lions. Take means to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal. The MMPA provides an exception for nonlethal efforts to deter nuisance animals-such as sea lions-if conducted by authorized personnel. Nonlethal taking must be done in a humane manner, and all practical steps must be taken to avoid death to or injury of the animal. Section 120 (16 U.S.C. §1389) of the MMPA provides an exception for lethal removal when nonlethal actions are not successful. Under Section 120, a state may apply to the Secretary of Commerce to intentionally euthanize sea lions when individually identifiable sea lions or seals are having a significant negative impact on salmonids that have been listed as threatened or endangered or are approaching threatened or endangered status under the ESA. Before lethal removals are allowed, the Secretary decides whether sufficient evidence exists to establish a Pinniped-Fishery Task Force to review public comments, population and https:/crsreports.congress go

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