In December 2006, the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho applied to the Secretary of Commerce for authorization under Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Section 120 permits lethal taking of seals and sea lions that are having a significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. The states believe that California sea lions are having such an impact on ESA-listed fish in the Columbia River basin.
Sea Lion Updates
Mar. 15, 2012: We authorized Washington, Oregon and Idaho to remove salmon-eating California sea lions
Nov. 15, 2011: We released the 2011 Pinniped – Fishery Interaction Task Force Report (PDF 166KB)
Oct. 6, 2011: We announced an Oct. 24 meeting of the reconvened Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force.
Sept. 12, 2011: We accepted the states' application to remove sea lions under MMPA Sec. 120.
Aug. 22, 2011: We received an application (PDF 885KB) from the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho to request a new authorization under MMPA Sec. 120 to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam.
July 26, 2011: We informed Washington and Oregon that we're withdrawing our letter of authorization (PDF 103KB) to them to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam. This issue is in litigation and there is no sea lion activity at Bonneville now; little activity is expected until next spring. We and the states have concluded that it's in our collective interests to permanently suspend the letter of authorization. Instead we'll consider a new request on the California sea lion conflict. If the states submit a new application under the MMPA, we'll consider the request, without prejudging it. The conflict between California sea lions and salmon remains. We hope our decision will help resolve that conflict in a way that is legally and scientifically sound, and biologically effective.
May 13, 2011: We authorized Washington and Oregon to remove salmon-eating California sea lions
Jan. 19, 2011: NOAA Fisheries Will Fix "Flaws" in Program to Stem Salmon-Eating Sea Lions at Bonneville
- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on MMPA Sec. 120 sea lion removal program (PDF 315KB)
Dec. 21, 2010: We released the 2010 Pinniped – Fishery Interaction Task Force Report.
Oct. 13, 2010: We released the 2010 Section 120 Evaluation & Task Force Instructions (PDF 82KB) & list of 2010 task force members
Sept. 9, 2010: We announced that we're reconvening the Pinniped – Fishery Interaction Task Force in a letter to the task force members. (PDF 60KB) This action follows the third field season of sea lion removals in accordance with the Letter of Authorization to the states. (PDF 414KB)
Mar. 18, 2008: We announced our approval of the three states’ request for authority to remove California sea lions that feed on ESA-listed salmon in the Columbia River Basin.
Nov. 7, 2007: We released the 2007 Pinniped – Fishery Interaction Task Force Report.
Aug. 2, 2007: We announced establishment of a Pinniped – Fishery Interaction Task Force.
Jan. 30, 2007: The Secretary of Commerce, acting through NOAA’s Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, accepted the states' application to remove sea lions under MMPA Sec. 120.
Dec. 5, 2006: States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho applied under MMPA Sec. 120 to remove sea lions.
