Fury erupts as thousands of sea lions face death by explosive devices

Officials in the Pacific Northwest are considering expanding lethal removal of sea lions to protect declining salmon populations and support regional fisheries. An estimated 4,000 to 4,500 sea lions live in the Columbia River basin across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, where they feed on migrating salmon and steelhead. Supporters say predation is increasing and threatens vulnerable fish runs relied on by tribal fisheries and commercial fishermen. The proposal gained momentum after Washington Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez urged direct, lethal removal, citing comparisons of sea lion consumption to fishermen and tribal harvest and reporting wounds linked to sea lion bites at Bonneville Dam. Critics argue sea lions are being blamed for broader declines driven by habitat destruction, overfishing, hydroelectric dams, and climate change.

"Supporters of the effort argue sea lion predation has become a growing threat to already vulnerable fish runs relied on by local communities, tribal fisheries and commercial fishermen. The push gained momentum in April after Washington Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez urged the Trump administration to approve the 'direct, lethal removal' of sea lions to help protect threatened salmon populations. Gluesenkamp Perez said sea lions have at times eaten four times more salmon than fishermen and Native American tribes harvest in a year."

"She also noted that nearly one in four fish passing through Bonneville Dam during the 2025 spring season showed wounds linked to sea lion bites. Sea lions often congregate below Bonneville Dam, where migrating fish are forced through narrow passages that make them easy targets for predators. Gluesenkamp Perez argued the crisis has reached a breaking point, claiming sea lions have at times eaten four times more salmon than fishermen and Native American tribes harvest in a year."

"Critics, however, argue sea lions are being unfairly blamed for a crisis driven largely by habitat destruction, overfishing, hydroelectric dams and climate change. One X user wrote: 'I do not support the mass slaughter of the sea lions, which are not invasive, for preying on their natural prey.' The Columbia River Basin once sustained between 10 million and 16 million salmon and steelhead, but more than one-third of those historic populations are now extinct, while many remaining runs are considered critically low."

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