Sea lions, blamed for a dramatic decrease in steelhead trout, can be killed if they're caught eating the fish, the federal government said in announcing new rules.
The sea lions, protected by law since 1972, have been eating the steelheads at the Ballard ship locks in Puget Sound as the fish try to return to spawning grounds around Lake Washington.Under guidelines announced Wednesday, the state can begin killing the big sea mammals Saturday, although animal-rights groups vowed to file a lawsuit to block the new rules.
In a letter to the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Marine Fisheries Service said the state may kill any "predatory" sea lion that has a history of eating steelhead, is oblivious to underwater noisemakers and is seen hunting the fish this season.
A sea lion must meet all three criteria before it can be killed, said Joe Scordino, acting deputy director of the service's Northwest Region.
So far, five animals have been identified as possible candidates.
State and federal biologists blame the sea lions for a big decrease in steelhead returning to spawn over the past decade. So far this year, only 33 steelhead have been counted at the locks, and scientists predict the total run will be fewer than 150 fish.
"We don't have the luxury anymore with the size of this run to continue experimenting," Scordino said.
In the past, the federal government and the state have tried a range of methods to control the sea lions, including installing barriers and changing water flows at the locks, shooting the animals with rubber-tipped arrows, feeding them bad-tasting fish and setting off firecrackers. Some animals were captured and shipped to California - and still made their way back.
An Animal Care Committee - made up of veterinarians, marine-mammal caretakers and federal and state marine-mammal biologists - will develop protocols for killing the sea lions, the service's letter said.