6
S moke S ignals
AUGUST 15, 2018
Tribes supporting legislation
to address sea lion predation
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Two Oregon Tribes – the Confed-
erated Tribes of Grand Ronde and
the Siletz Tribe – are supporting
the Predation Reduction of Salmon
Act introduced in the U.S. Senate
on Tuesday, July 31, by Oregon
Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
The act would address the “ur-
gent” issue of sea lion predation
of endangered salmon on the Co-
lumbia River and at Willamette
Falls, while promoting Tribal man-
agement of natural resources and
ensuring the humane removal of
the animals.
“Earlier this summer I stood,
helplessly, at Willamette Falls and
watched sea lions take salmon and
steelhead away from our ceremoni-
al fishermen, our community and
our families,” said Tribal Council
Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy
in a Facebook post placed on the
Tribe’s official social media page on
Friday, Aug. 3. “We cannot allow
this to happen. We cannot allow the
extinction that occurred at Ballard
Locks to happen here.”
Kenn edy sai d Me rkle y a nd
Wyden’s legislation would allow the
region to come together to address
the issue.
“Merkley’s bill recognizes that
Oregon Tribes, such as Siletz, con-
tinue to have a unique interest in
salmon recovery and should not be
sidelined by Congress in sea lion
management,” said Dee Pigsley,
Tribal chair of the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians. “Tribes can
play both a scientific and cultural
role in restoring balance in the river
for our salmon.”
A press release from Merkley’s
office stated that sea lions are cur-
rently having a “devastating” effect
on salmon recovery, eating up to
25 percent of certain salmon runs.
At Willamette Falls, for example,
the Oregon Department of Fish &
Wildlife estimates that unless sea
lion predation is addressed that
the winter steelhead run in the
Willamette River will likely face
extinction.
“Current efforts to manage sea
lion predation, including hazing
and non-lethal deterrence, have not
been effective,” the press release
stated. “When the Oregon Depart-
ment of Fish & Wildlife captured
two sea lions at Willamette Falls
and transported them 230 miles
away to Newport, the sea lions
returned to the falls in less than
a week. Despite the best efforts of
state wildlife managers, federal
legislation is needed to address
the growing problem of sea lion
predation.”
“Salmon are critical to Oregon’s
culture and heritage, and it’s clear
that sea lions are creating a serious
threat to endangered salmon that
needs to be solved,” Merkley said.
“It’s possible to address this prob-
lem in a targeted way that enables
equitable Tribal management and
does not impact sea lion popula-
tions, and that is what we should
strive for.”
“Sea lions are taking a bite out
of Oregon’s salmon and steelhead
stocks, and it’s clear a response is
needed to reverse the rapidly re-
duced supply of these endangered
fish in Oregon’s rivers and water-
ways,” Wyden said. “The legislation
will help solve the challenge of this
dwindling supply of salmon and
steelhead, protecting good-paying
recreational jobs and Oregon’s
coastal and fishing communities.”
The act would target critical en-
dangered salmon habitat and give
wildlife managers more flexibility to
remove sea lions from areas where
salmon are most at risk, including
Bonneville Dam, Willamette Falls
and other emerging areas. It also
would ensure humane treatment
of sea lions, which are currently
protected by Marine Mammal Pro-
tection Act passed in 1972.
The act also would allow Oregon,
Idaho and Washington to enter
into agreements with Tribes that
have legal or historic interests in
the protection of salmon to help
manage sea lion predation.
Merkley discussed sea lion pre-
dation of salmon during his May 4
visit with the Grand Ronde Tribal
Council. He said any legislation
has to be targeted and not create
an outcry, especially from the in-
fluential Humane Society of the
United States.
Free Playgroup in
Grand Ronde!
*
When: First Thursday of each
month 10:00 am-11:30 am
Where: CTGR – Community
Service Center 9615 Grand Ronde
Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Who: Parents and caregivers of
children under 5 years.
Why: Come to play, have a snack
and have fun!