Willamette Wild Steelhead Runs Improve after Sea Lions Euthanized

Willamette Wild Steelhead Runs Improve after Sea Lions Euthanized

Columbia and Willamette river salmon and steelhead have faced serious threats from California sea lions that prey on fish waiting to move up the fish ladders at Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls.

Since the 1990’s, sea lions have consumed tens of thousands of migrating fish at these two locations, many from threatened and endangered runs protected under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

willamette falls

Wild Willamette steelhead counts are looking to be some of the best seen in three years. ODFW’s biologists are hoping to see this continued improvement. 

“We’re excited to see some of the best winter steelhead returns in recent years,” said Dr. Shaun Clements, ODFW senior policy analyst. “We’re encouraged by the fish numbers and by the success in implementing the sea lion removal program. We’ve definitely been able to reduce predation this year and provide some relief to the fish.”

Over 2,400 winter steelhead have crossed Willamette Falls with about 3,200 winter steelhead predicted.

Last year’s return was 1,829 fish, and in 2017 only 822 returned...

 

ODFW biologists have been monitoring Willamette wild winter steelhead for a number of years and have shown that California sea lions were consuming up to 25 percent of the winter steelhead run. Biologists warned that unless something was done to protect the steelhead from such heavy losses to predation, the fish were in imminent danger of going extinct.

Since mid-December, ODFW has removed and euthanized 13 California sea lions. Many of these animals had been present in the vicinity of Willamette Falls since last August and almost all had been coming to the Falls for a number of years.

steelhead roger

“We typically see an increase in sea lion abundance at the Falls in April as additional animals move in to feed on the more abundant spring Chinook,” said Clements. “We always expected it would take 2-3 years to fully manage predation at this site but we’re encouraged by the early results.”

 What are your thoughts? Should Sea Lions continue to be removed or should they be allowed to feed at the falls?

 

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30 comments

It’s called Wildlife Management for a reason…I know that the Anti’s are out there lurking but this is so justifiable. The goal is not to kill sea lions for god’s sake but to strike a balance. Yes it would be great if we didn’t have to kill even one but that’s not realistic right now. Should the numbers of fish explode to levels that justify allowing seals to return that’s fine, but undoubtedly this will be an ongoing process like all wildlife management.

Michael E Kemna

Finally! It does not make sense to allow sea lions to take advantage of fish waiting to go up fish ladders without doing something about it. This is very good news!

Verne Martin

KEEP KILLING THE SEA LIONS AND PROTECT THE FISH!!! THE SEA LIONS BELONG IN THE SEA — NOT THE RIVERS. THAT’S WHY THEY ARE CALLED SEA LIONS!!! IT’S ABOUT TIME ODFW DID SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE FISHERY THEY ARE HIRED TO PROTECT!! HOPE IT’S NOT TO LATE!!!

TIMOTHY w KAMIMAE

KEEP KILLING THE SEA LIONS AND PROTECT THE FISH!!! THE SEA LIONS BELONG IN THE SEA — NOT THE RIVERS. THAT’S WHY THEY ARE CALLED SEA LIONS!!!

TIMOTHY w KAMIMAE

Euthanize the sea lions to a sensible balence at the mouths of all Pacific Northwest rivers. For example, the steelhead returns on the California Smith River, despite responsible sport fishing regulations that have come into effect in the past 10 years, have hit all time lows while the sea lion populations have hit all time highs. Sensible is desperately needed.

Peter Durney

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