Salmon Recovery Act Pt 1

Salmon Recovery Act Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. Salmon recovery got a real shot in the arm before Congress closed out 2018 when the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act was signed into law.

Representative Dan Newhouse says the bill that amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 is similar to one he'd proposed earlier...

NEWHOUSE ... "It will allow the lethal use of force to help control those problem sealions, the predatory ones, that make it far enough up the river that are devastating our salmon populations below the dams."

Newhouse says it's a huge step in helping with salmon recovery ...

NEWHOUSE ... "We have gone from the 1960's, I think there was a population of approximately 30,000 California Sealions. Today, that population has recovered to a level of over 300,000 and we are certainly seeing a huge impact on salmon on the Columbia and Snake river system."

Newhouse says a closely related issue that also needs attention is the removal of some Columbia and Snake River dams ...

NEWHOUSE ... "They continue to be threatened by many groups of people, many individuals, and they are such a huge part of the economy of the Pacific Northwest on so many different levels that that will also be a huge priority as we move into the 116th Congress."

The Act gives state and tribal managers more flexibility in addressing the predatory sealions that threaten salmon and steelhead, both listed as Endangered Species. The salmon are said to be critical to the Northwest economy, culture and heritage, as well as the survival of Northwest Orcas.

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