Study finds 7,500 marine mammals in lower Columbia River

[Special T]

Tribes have more freedom because they dont have to listen to Local Bunny huggers just federal law.

I think there COULD be some real improvement via tribes they seem to have more latitude....

[Encore 280]

I was in Astoria a couple weeks ago at my cousins above the east end mooring basin. I couldn't believe all the damn sea lions down there piled on the rocks and mooring slips! I was wishing we could put a pod of killer whales in there and block both ends of the basin and see what happens. Would be fun to sit up there and pick 'em off with a sniper rifle too!!

[Special T]

Why do you think they are seeing great whites out there now?

[timberfaller]

  Special T!!

One thing though, Had it not been for the "tribes" getting involved,  NOAA would have succeeded in killing off the Carson stock!!  YOU ALL know it as "returning salmon"

[Special T]

Look the statement isnt ment to derail the thread and startbashing tribes.... I must say tho that if you look at a lot of effort, actions, and littigation by tribes $ is the overall goal. I would love to see a partnership between tribes and sportmen on various issues relating to salmon... Seperate Merganser limits are one of them... Totally doable....

[pianoman9701]

I was talking to one of the Enforcement captains last night. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and ESA, in which all of the critters are listed, give no allowance for native harvest of these critters. The only control on these creatures is the trapping done at Bonneville, and then lethal control only after the animal has been positively identified as a salmon eater. That quota is still sitting at 80 animals, or 1/10th of 1% of the population(s). He indicated frustration at their inability to do anything about the number of animals that are munching on smelt and will stick around for the salmon runs all spring and summer.