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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2018)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2018 | 3B ODFW PLAN APPROVED FOR LIMITED SEA LION REMOVAL FROM LOWER W ILLAMMETTE SALEM — The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s application to lethally remove the few California sea lions present at Willamette falls in an effort to help save winter steelhead and spring Chinook from extinction. Sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). On Oct. 6, 2017, ODFW applied for authoriza- tion to remove California sea lions at Willamette Falls under a provision of the MMPA that allows for limited lethal take of sea lions that are having a negative impact on protected fish species. ODFW filed for the appli- cation because their analyses showed that the high levels of predation by sea lions (25 percent of the steelhead run in 2017) meant there was an almost 90 percent probability that one of the upper Willamette steelhead runs would go extinct. The level of predation on spring Chinook, although lower (7-9 percent annually), was still enough to increase the extinction risk by 10-15 percent. The NMFS reached their decision after considering public comment on ODFW’s application as well as the rec- ommendations of a 14-mem- ber stakeholder taskforce. “This is good news for the native runs of salmon and steelhead in the Willamette River,” said Dr. Shaun Clements, ODFW policy ana- lyst on the sea lion issue. “Before this decision, the state’s hands were tied as far as limiting sea lion predation on the Willamette River. We did put several years’ effort Get Results...List With Tim. Tim Sapp Owner / Principal Broker 541 999-8230 Lake Point Drive #57 – Ready to build your dream home? This .35 acre homesite is level, cleared and offers lovely lake frontage with views. Lo- cated just north of town at the Reserve at Heceta Lake. $95,000. #2392-14502747 into non-lethal deterrence, none of which worked. “The unfortunate reality is that, if we want to prevent extinction of the steelhead 2016. ODFW requested and was granted authority to remove up to one percent of the pop- ulation’s “potential biological “Steller sea lions are preying heavily on sturgeon in the lower Willamette but current federal law prohibits us from doing anything about that...” —Dr. Shaun Clements, ODFW policy analyst and Chinook, we will have to lethally remove sea lions at this location.” Clements noted that this authorization will do nothing to help curb the recent influx of the much larger steller sea lions into the basin, or their impact on white sturgeon, a species that can live up to 100 years. “Steller sea lions are prey- ing heavily on sturgeon in the lower Willamette but current federal law prohibits us from doing anything about that,” said Clements. California sea lions in the U.S. are not listed as “endan- gered” or “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The most recent pop- ulation estimate for the U.S. stock was 296,750 animals in removal” level, a metric that translates to a maximum of 93 animals a year on the lower Willamette. According to ODFW’s Marine Mammal Program Lead Dr. Shea Steingass, there are 50-100 animals that are present at the Falls at some point in the year. “Removal of these sub- adult and adult males will have no impact on viability of the sea lion population but will greatly improve the out- look for threatened upper Willamette winter steelhead runs,” she said. With federal authorization now in place, ODFW can move forward with plans to trap and remove sea lions from the Willamette. “We currently have up to 12 animals at the Falls and a majority of those have been seen here every year for the past 10 years” said Steingass. ODFW will have to meet two federally-mandated cri- teria to remove an individual sea lion: it must be observed in the area between Willamette Falls and the mouth of the Clackamas River for two days, or be seen eating salmonids. Those sea lions captured on the Willamette by agency biologists will be transported to a secure facility and humanely euthanized by a veterinary staff. Staff will also perform a necropsy and col- lect samples to determine the age, health, and diet of the animal in an effort to better understand ecology and behavior of these animals. ODFW will continue to monitor sea lion predation at Willamette Falls, and report its findings to NMFS, which will decide in five years whether to renew ODFW’s authority. Clements said the action is about striking a balance between the recovery of imperiled salmon and steel- head and the ongoing conser- vation of sea lions. “We are trying to prevent a few individual sea lions from habituating to these areas that are hundreds of miles from the ocean where they are especially effective at driving already depleted fish popula- tions further down the path to extinction,” he said. Predation by pinnipeds also threatens to undermine the gains made by significant regional investments in recovery efforts, such as improvements in fish passage at dams, restoration of fish habitat, and implementation of fishing regulations that prohibit anglers from har- vesting wild fish. The MMPA, unlike the ESA, has fewer tools for man- agers to use to balance the conservation of predators and prey and prevent these situa- tions in locations where fish are most vulnerable. Sections of the MMPA were revised in 1994 to allow limited man- agement of sea lions for the purpose of protecting ESA- listed salmon and steelhead. Unfortunately, the revi- sions do not allow for proac- tive management and cannot address emergencies like that occurring at Willamette Falls. In this regard, ODFW has been working with Oregon’s congressional delegation, which is working on a legisla- tive solution that would give wildlife managers broader authority to deal with conser- vation problems if they arise elsewhere in the Columbia Basin. “I’m optimistic that we’ll get what we need from Congress, but also nervous that time is running out to get this done before the end of the congressional calendar,” said Clements. 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 S TATE M ARINE B OARD URGES BOATERS TO REGISTER BEFORE D ECEMBER DEADLINE See Jim for your auto sales needs! 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 The Oregon State Marine Board mailed approximately 75,000 boat reg- istration renewal notices to boaters whose boat registration expires on Dec. 31, 2018. Each renewal notice is unique to the owner and their boat. Boaters have three options to renew. The fastest option is online using the Marine Board’s online store. After completing the transaction, boaters can print a temporary permit and go boating right away. There is no trans- action fee when using a credit or debit card online. Other options include mailing the payment and coupon to the Marine Board or visiting a local registration agent, who will issue a temporary per- stations, decontamination equipment, inspectors, signage and education materials. The average boat length in Oregon is 16 feet, so the two-year reg- istration costs $77 (including AIS fee). The Marine Board is funded entire- ly by motorized boat and sailboat reg- istrations, motorboat fuel tax and receives federal funding to support services to boaters. Nearly .86 cents of every dollar are returned to boaters in the form of law enforcement services, boat ramps, restrooms (floating and land-based), parking, boarding floats, facilities engineering/design services and boating education outreach. Access the online store at www.boat oregon.com/store. mit for an additional fee. Other online services include: • Apply for a Boater Education Card or Replacement Card • Purchase Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Permits for nonmotorized boats • Apply for the boat’s Certificate of Title or a Replacement Title • Register a new boat • Register or renew as an Outfitter or Guide • Apply for a Charter Boat license The cost to register a motorboat or sailboat 12 feet or longer is $4.50 per foot, rounded to the highest foot, plus a $5 aquatic invasive species fee. The Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention fund pays for inspection PORT HOLE PUBLISHING 179 Laurel Street, Suite D FLORENCE LET US PUBLISH YOUR BOOK PORT HOLE BOOKS 77567 Hwy. 101 • GARDINER NEW-USED-RARE! WE HAVE IT ALL! Best-Selling Author, Ellen Traylor, Owner/Publisher 541-999-5725 portholebooks.com • portholepublications.com DONATE NOW! Maximize your donation by donating to Cars for a Cause by Dec. 31st. We accept cars, trucks, RVs, boats & motorcycles CALL NOW! 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