Euthanization of sea lions legalized in the Pacific Northwest to replenish the salmon population
Off the northwest corner of Washington State, Puget Sound is the battleground between two of nature’s most prized creatures: sea lions and the Chinook king salmon. Noted as a “conservation success story,” the sea lion population in Puget Sound is flourishing. The species was once a target of state-sponsored hunting programs in Washington, Alaska, and Oregon, which drastically reduced their numbers to fewer than 40,000 by 1960. However, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 deemed hunting sea lions illegal, and their population was restored. As it did, the salmon population on which they depend plummeted. Despite improving the state of the salmon population, euthanizing sea lions is unethical and fails to address human error as the primary driver of the crisis.
Residents and biologists alike have tried various methods to replenish the salmon population. They’ve shot rubber bullets at the sea lions, scared them away with boats, triggered explosives, laid electrified mats, and even transported them thousands of miles away. Despite their efforts, the population remained stubborn and would often return within days or even hours. This past year, the sea lions ate almost half of the yearly Chinook run. But what’s so important about the Chinook salmon? Not only do 140 other species depend on salmon in their diet, but so do many Native American tribes. Salmon is the backbone of their diet and culture. In fact, salmon drives the calendar and is woven into the tribal language. Salmon is the staple of Native American tribes who live around the river’s culture and diet, while also being entrenched in the local economy (the salmon harvest is worth $14 million).
In the Columbia River Basin, sea lions lounge near fish ladders (a man-made structure that helps salmon move upstream). They have eaten so many salmon that they have been accepted for “lethal removal.” Since 2020, 199 sea lions have been killed, saving 61,000 salmon, noted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Chemical injections like potassium chloride are used after anesthesia, causing a loss of consciousness, and precede cardiac or respiratory arrest. Others go even further to cite firearms as a more effective tool. Although shooting sea lions is illegal, locals don’t let that stop them. Supporters of sea lion euthanization argue that killing is straightforward and can send a message to the rest of the population, while also noting that the outlook for the Chinook salmon is improving. In terms of numbers, they’re right. It costs $203 for each removal (expensive, but comparable to other options). While euthanizing sea lions might be cost-effective, it undermines the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The MMPA intends to mitigate human impacts on Marine Life, a goal violated by the lethal removal of sea lions. Further, the authorization of such means sets a dangerous precedent for wildlife management. The core ethical issue with removing sea lions is the normalization of violence as a fix, instead of addressing the root issue: human-caused impacts. Euthanizing sea lions to fix a problem humanity started is inhumane and frankly, unfair. The salmon crisis was caused by habitat loss, blocked migration routes, and infrastructure development. Case in point, cities in Washington have pumped gallons of water from salmon rivers, not only reducing the area for the fish to swim, but also raising the water temperature. Because of the heated waters, the salmon population has had a harder time reproducing. “Managing an endangered species that is preyed on by another endangered species is a complex thing,” says Jennifer Sevigny, a biologist working for the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians. The team is working towards managing the conflict between two endangered species using a more ethical means. It is easy to name the sea lion as the sole perpetrator of the “salmon crisis.” It is harder to fault ourselves.
