Post by: bearpaw on March 01, 2015, 10:17:41 PM
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 (http://is.gd/n79s0Y) ).
continued:
http://tinyurl.com/pv3ykbr (http://tinyurl.com/pv3ykbr)
Post by: kentrek on March 01, 2015, 10:38:02 PM
Post by: Skillet on March 01, 2015, 10:40:45 PM
In this case, I fully support unrestricted tribal hunting rights. Imagine they could find a market for harbor seal blubber of they wanted too...
Post by: kentrek on March 01, 2015, 10:41:22 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on March 01, 2015, 10:43:56 PM
Post by: fishnfur on March 01, 2015, 11:39:34 PM
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.
Post by: timberfaller on March 03, 2015, 09:23:14 AM
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!!?? :chuckle:
If this is the case with the seals, maybe its time to de-list the Salmon and Stealhead??? :chuckle: :tup:
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 03, 2015, 10:18:35 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on March 03, 2015, 11:17:02 AM
Next aerial survey should be done with a B-52.
Probably not great for the run, though.
Post by: Ripper on March 03, 2015, 11:23:23 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on March 03, 2015, 11:25:08 AM
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.
Post by: Curly on March 03, 2015, 11:51:37 AM
Post by: Special T on March 03, 2015, 12:10:54 PM
Post by: fastdam on March 03, 2015, 12:36:53 PM
Post by: Curly on March 03, 2015, 01:00:54 PM
How about opening it to hunting for EVERYONE not just American indians :dunno:
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. :dunno: 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'...... :tup: :mgun: :mgun2:
Post by: Special T on March 03, 2015, 04:22:11 PM
I think there COULD be some real improvement via tribes they seem to have more latitude....
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2015, 04:36:08 PM
Post by: Special T on March 03, 2015, 04:42:33 PM
Post by: timberfaller on March 03, 2015, 05:22:11 PM
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" :)
Post by: Special T on March 03, 2015, 05:32:32 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on March 04, 2015, 05:50:33 AM