The Humane Society of the United States had asked for a temporary restraining order while it proceeds with a lawsuit against the practice. Wildlife officials, intending to reduce sea lions' consumption of salmon and steelhead, have trapped and removed 38 sea lions since 2008. They've killed 28 and shipped the other 10 to zoos and aquariums. The killings are controversial, however, and the legal fight is continuing.
Bonneville Dam, in the Columbia River about 140 miles inland, is the first obstacle for migrating salmon and steelhead. They pool up below the dam, making them easy pickings for sea lions that have followed them up river.
The Humane Society is disappointed in the ruling but grateful the judge put restrictions on the wildlife agencies, said Sharon Young, the group's field director for marine issues. The agencies previously received permission to kill 92 sea lions by shooting, but the judge limited it to 30 animals by lethal injection.
The Humane Society believes the killings are not justified. Fish runs are healthy and are not being "eaten into extinction" by sea lions, Young said. Fishing and the dams themselves kill far more fish, she said.
"It's a waste of tax dollars, time and lives," Young said. "And it's not doing much of anything for salmon recovery." Jessica Sall, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, said the agency is pleased with the ruling from a judge in Washington, D.C. The department has traps and personnel in place at Bonneville, she said, and will take action if an opportunity arises to catch a California sea lion identified as a top predator. Sea lions are euthanized at a facility at the dam, she said.
