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Commentaries and editorials

Salmon Runs:
Remove Sea Lions

by John Crawford
Seattle Times, February 4, 2022

Graphic: Adjusted Estimate of salmonid consumed by California and Stellar sea lions at Bonneville Dam, from Jan 1. to June 2, 2002-2018 Graphic: Consumption of spring Chinook Salmon by pinnipeds at Bonneville Dam tailrace during the spring sampling seasons from 2002 to 2018. Passage counts of Chinook Salmon includes both adult and jack salmon. Breaching the Snake River dams will not guarantee an improved salmon run. A better suggestion might be to remove the sea lions from the Columbia River and severely restrict fishing as our Canadian neighbors are doing for their Fraser River run.

It is difficult for more salmon to get upstream when they are being overfished, and each sea lion consumes 15 to 40 pounds of fish per day. If you breach the dams, you would lose inexpensive and renewable (clean) hydroelectric power, abundant water for irrigation and cost-effective marine transportation.

Compounding that loss would be the exorbitant cost to breach the dams, along with the prolonged disruption to the surrounding areas -- especially downstream. Wouldn't that money be better spent to fix our bridges and roads?

A fair and objective cost-benefit analysis is necessary to determine the greater public good without undue influence from self-interest groups and political donations.


John Crawford, Shoreline
Salmon Runs: Remove Sea Lions
Seattle Times, February 4, 2022

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