Fisherman arrested for defending bait.

[Hermit]

Last updated August 2, 2007 9:47 p.m. PT

Panel set up to consider killing of sea lions
Animals still devouring salmon at dam ladder
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A panel of experts has been named to consider the death penalty for California sea lions that are eating an increasing number of endangered salmon trying to swim over Bonneville Dam.

NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency that oversees marine mammals and salmon, said Thursday that 18 experts will review the proposal from the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho to start killing sea lions that won't stop eating salmon at the dam.

The Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force has representatives from government agencies, Indian tribes, fishing groups, the Oregon Zoo and the Humane Society of the United States.

It has scheduled its first meeting for Sept. 4 in Portland. It is to make a recommendation within two months.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326279_sealions03.html

[boneaddict]

A ton of salmon will die before they can work that deal out, but I am glad they are at least thinking about it.  I laughed when they captured one, hauled it down to California, and it beat the boat back up here to eat more fish. 

[Krustypuff]

HAHAHA I can rember when they were going to kill the seals at the locks in Ballard. Never happend it takes a federal judge to override the mammmal act and i dont see it happening. People that get pissed at the seal for stealing thier fish need to grow up. You are in its worlkd when you fish and it no difrent than long liners loosing halibut to whal;es. Should all the killer whales be killed because they are eating rthe long liners fish. No i dont think so.. All animals have thier place in the food chain. And because we are at the top we feel it is our right to chose what lives and dies. So by that accords if you are out hunting and steal a bigger hunters trophy does he have the right to kill you because you took his deer or bear or what ever. Rebait your hook and cast again...... Man I am reading some stupid ideas on here. Killing something because you dont like it or it eats the fish is FUC_ED up.... LEts start whacking all the commercial fiusherman who are destroying fisheries by over fishing it, cuttign nets and lettign them drift and tear up little nemos habitat???

[Curly]

Krustypuff, I'm not sure about the pier down in Cali, but on the Columbia River the sealions are way overpopulated and they are decimating the wild steelhead and sturgeon down there.  The sealions would not have the easy eating opportunities if it weren't for the dams that make the fish an easy meal.  There is absolutely no reason not to thin the herd.

As far as the incident with the guy that stabbed that sealion.......he was a *censored* for stabbing the sealion.  But on the other hand, the sealions should be more afraid of humans than to get that close.  Maybe they should get educated by getting whacked on the head with a pole once in a while.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'm scratching my head here.  If you can kill a large, wild, unconfined carnivore with a STEAK KNIFE, ie, within arm's reach, that is self-defense.  Not poaching, not murder.  And, a habituated large carnivore that is unafraid of humans needs to be killed.  If he shot it at a distance with a firearm, that would be different.

How would you guys like to be prosecuted for killing a bear or cougar with a knife, because it did not have it's teeth or claws in you??  Would be no different if a habituated bear was checking you out looking for a food reward - you don't need to be bleeding to justify defense. 

[popeshawnpaul]

LOL.  It's a seal dude.  Never seen any rabbid man-eating seals out there...  I've scuba dived with them for 18 years, they are like domesticated dogs, they like to be pet.  On the other hand...I have been charged by grizzly and black bears.  There is a real threat there.  See the difference?  Has a seal ever attacked or killed a human...

This reminds me... I think there is an old South Park episode, where the deer runs at the hunters...  they are coming right for us...shoot the deer in self defense...

[tlbradford]

What I would really like to see is the federal government to keep the hell out of State's business.  The state that is being affected by the sea lions should regulate how they are managed.  The wolves in Idaho should be managed by Idaho. 

This guy reacted in the wrong way.  He should be punished.  I hate the tribal netting and waste as much as the next guy, but there is a right and wrong way to go about handling situations in which their privelages are being abused.  Vigilante justice like burning the nets and dumping hay don't help our cause for getting the rules changed.  They only strengthen the opposition's case.  However, if documented abuse is not being responded too by our elected officials and gov't, then sometimes extreme measures are needed.

[DOUBLELUNG]

 LOL.  It's a seal dude.  Never seen any rabbid man-eating seals out there...  I've scuba dived with them for 18 years, they are like domesticated dogs, they like to be pet.  On the other hand...I have been charged by grizzly and black bears.  There is a real threat there.  See the difference?  Has a seal ever attacked or killed a human...
[/quote]

Thanks Pope-dude - I feel better now.  Lord knows, nobody's ever been hurt or killed by domesticated dogs!  Whew!  What a relief!

I've been hunting grizzly country for about 16 years, never yet seen an aggressive bear, black or griz.  Every one that's seen or smelled me, ran like hell.  So, despite your personal experience logic, based on my personal experiences you must be full of doodoo!

Fisherman in Cali was attacked this year by a sea lion that took him out of his boat.  I worked with a gal once who was badly bitten on the inner thigh by a sea lion - talk about injury to insult!  We raised an awful lot of speculations about that pinnipeds intentions, given the proximity to .. seafood.