Study finds 7,500 marine mammals in lower Columbia River

[bearpaw]

Study finds 7,500 marine mammals in lower Columbia River
 
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS February 28, 2015
 
LEWISTON, Idaho — An aerial survey of marine mammals in the lower Columbia River found spring Chinook salmon will have to make it past more than 6,000 hungry harbor seals, 1,500 California sea lions and 100 Steller sea lions.
 
The marine mammals are drawn into the river this time of year to take advantage of a large smelt run, but they will switch to spring Chinook by spring.
 
"We have more sea lions than ever in the Columbia, and they are there when endangered salmon and steelhead are there, and the smelt they are eating are endangered as well," said Steve Jefferies of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife told The Lewiston Tribune (http://is.gd/n79s0Y ).
 
continued:
http://tinyurl.com/pv3ykbr

[kentrek]

6000+1500+100 =7600

[Skillet]

 
In this case, I fully support unrestricted tribal hunting rights. Imagine they could find a market for harbor seal blubber of they wanted too...

[kentrek]

 seals need to be controlled....but if fish numbers are the concern then the focus should be birds

[buckhorn2]

They said they will eat maybe 40 percent of the fish coming in also there is the biggest Caspian tern colony down there eating the smolt on the way out of the river the docks have so many sea lions in some places the boats can't tie up.

[fishnfur]

Yep.  As I've said in several posts, the river is absoultely full of birds and marine mammals between Cathlamet and West Longview.  It was probably alot like this, but way (way) bigger before humans destroyed the salmon runs (smelt, sturgeon, on and on...) in the Columbia and elsewhere. 

I don't like those sea lions there one bit (or the birds feeding on smolt), but I don't bitch about it very much.  I'm pretty sure they are probably having meetings every night on those docks, squabbling about how to control the populations of humans taking all their fish. 

I'm just enjoying the the wildlife for the time being.  Reminds me of when I was a kid.  Seeing all that activity made me feel that everything was still OK in the world.

There are still tons of smelt heading up the Cowlitz.  I don't imagine things will change much for several weeks.  I'm hoping the salmon runs get around the sea lions, gill nets, and past the fish ladders to spawn.  If I get a couple along the way, I'm a happy man.

[timberfaller]

Just heard about this the other day!   Was listening to the local news on the radio this morning The spokesman from I think Bonneville went on record that "the more seals showing up, means more fish returning"

With that said, that means the more wolves there are, the more deer and elk we will have!???

AND

The more raptors there are the more game birds we'll see!!?? 

If this is the case with the seals, maybe its time to de-list the Salmon and Stealhead??? 

[JimmyHoffa]

Next aerial survey should be done with a B-52.

[pianoman9701]

Next aerial survey should be done with a B-52.

Probably not great for the run, though.

[Ripper]

Do it with an A-10 then. They can be more discriminate than a B-52.

[pianoman9701]

Do it with an A-10 then. They can be more discriminate than a B-52.

That would be so cool. Depleted uranium for sea lions. I love that.

[Curly]

The Makah's were allowed to kill blue whales, why not allow the natives to kill seals and sealions? 

[Special T]

I dont think you will find much help from the tribes on this one. Endangered Salmon Helps expand Tribes reach and authority via water rights. There is a LOT more $ in water rights Than Salmon. there are Federal $ available and people with land are more willing to shell out to "Protect" What they have.

[fastdam]

How about opening it to hunting for EVERYONE not just American indians

[Curly]

How about opening it to hunting for EVERYONE not just American indians

Ideally, yes.  But it seems like the greenies have no problem with letting natives do whatever they wish.  So, it seems that it might be an easier sell to let the natives have at it.    But then, maybe they wouldn't want to anyway.......  I just wish someone would do it. 

What really should happen is the Oregon State and Washington State wildlife departments should tell the feds to suck it.......and start wackin' and stackin'......