Animal Advocates Distribute Valentines Asking Fisheries Service to Cancel Plans to Kill Sea Lions

Portland, Ore.—In Defense of Animals (IDA) volunteers will be handing out valentines to Portlanders today with a message inside. The valentines urge them to contact The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and voice their opposition to the government agency’s plan to kill sea lions at the Bonneville Dam. The valentines will be handed out in red envelopes to passersby at Pioneer Courthouse Square, and detail what advocates see as flaws with the plan for lethal control of California sea lions observed eating Chinook during the Spring run on the Columbia River.

What: Valentines Day Outreach for Sea Lions
When: Thursday, February 14, 12 pm/noon
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square
Corner of SE Yamhill and Broadway, Portland

“Scapegoating and killing sea lions will not remedy the real threat to the endangered salmon - habitat loss and survival of juvenile fish. We should be protecting both of these species,” stated Matt Rossell, IDA’s Northwest Coordinator. “Frustrations from years of stagnant salmon recovery should not be taken out on protected animals who have been sustainably foraging marine fish for millennium.”

The valentine message includes various arguments against the killing, such as the fact that the NMFS cannot satisfy the MMPA requirement that the predation is having a “significant negative impact” on the decline or recovery of the fish. Government agencies estimate that sea lions eat between 2-4% of the runs but admit that the dam itself kills 2-16% of the adult fish and “harvest” by fishermen is allowed at levels between 4-17% each year.

The NMFS is accepting public comments regarding this issue until Tuesday, February 19th. Comments can be submitted to sea.lion.comments@noaa.gov with the subject line “California Sea Lion Lethal Removal.”

In Defense of Animals (IDA) is an international animal protection organization with over 85,000 members.