Ed BowlesOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

September 2019

PROGRESS MANAGING PINNIPEDS IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER

MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT A SUCCESS STORY…

A SUCCESS STORY…WITH UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES

MMPA: Rise of “PROBLEM” ANIMALS and AREAS

COLUMBIA RIVER “PROBLEM” ANIMALS and AREAS

BONNEVILLE DAM

~6%

100-200

ESA

Listed Runs

Sea lions

Predation

Loss

13

236Sea lions

Removed

146 MILES UPRIVER

WILLAMETTE FALLS 128 MILES UPRIVER

WILLAMETTE WINTER STEELHEAD A RUN IN PERIL

512

25%

40+

~90% vs 6%

Fish

Returned 2017

Probability

of Extinction

Sea lions

Predation

Loss

EMERGING ISSUES STELLER SEA LIONS & STURGEON

• Target spawners• Displace spawners

Pinniped Predation• S. 3119: Amendments to

Marine Mammal Protection Act

• Flexibility to balance fish and pinniped conservation

• Limited to Columbia River Basin• Bicameral, bipartisan support from

PNW congressional delegation• Championed by broad coalition of

states, tribes, conservation groups and fishing groups

• Signed into law early January• Planned for implementation 2020• Interim Section 120 permits in place

11

WILLAMETTE PINNIPED MANAGEMENT 2019 Section 120

3118W Steelhead

Returned

512Returned 2017

33CSL Removed

W Steelhead

Vs.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019M

inim

um p

reda

tion

Winter Steelhead Spring Chinook

WILLAMETTE FALLS REMOVAL DECREASES PREDATION RATES

NEW Section 120 Permit

• Spatial mgmt. vs. Individual sea lion management

Permit Process Timeline: June ~ late 2020

• States/Tribes applied under new MMPA rules

• California + Steller sea lions

2020 & BEYONDSEA LION MANAGEMENT

1 Location

1 Species

PARTIAL

All Locations

California

FULL

Steller

OLD RULES NEW RULES

Questions?