US sanctions sea lion killings

The US government has approved a sanction that authorizes the limited killing of sea lions in the Northwestern states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.  According to experts in the area, these sea lions are devouring an overwhelming proportion of the salmon population, leaving little to be captured and sold.

Every year the sea lions swim upstream through the Columbia River to the bottom of the Bonneville Dam, which stands as the border between Washington and Oregon.  Here, the sea lions are able to feast on the wild salmon and steelhead trout that are headed down the river to lay their eggs.

The percentage of salmon on the Columbia river overall eaten by sea lions is about 1 to 4 percent.  It is this small portion of the salmon population that is used by the "expert fishermen" as justification of these sanctioned killings.

It is expected that to maintain a consistent level of salmon, up to 92 sea lions a year can be killed, while even more will be killed by other interactions with humans such as ship strikes or net entanglements.

There are a number of organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States that are trying to fight the legislation with little or no progress.

Although it seems as though there is justification for these killings, I find it hard to support.  These sea lions are eating an minuscule portion of the total salmon population and their punishment does not fit the crime.

These sanctions are effective until May 2016.  Over the span of the next 4 years something must be done to reverse this legislation as it is fueled by greed and selfishness rather than common good of all. 

Teresa, Carson. "U.S. government sanctions limited sea lion killings." Yahoo News. 16 March 2002: n. page. Print. <http://news.yahoo.com/u-government-sanctions-limited-sea-lion-killings-140702089.html>.