This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow intentional lethal takings of certain pinnipeds in the Columbia River system, in other Washington waters, and in parts of Oregon to protect salmonids and other fish. It changes language in section 120(f) to cover pinnipeds (harbor seals, California sea lions, and Steller sea lions that are not listed as depleted or strategic) and adds an annual reporting requirement on pinniped populations and predation. The bill also creates, subject to appropriations, a "Columbia River Pinniped Exclusion Technology Accelerator" to develop technologies that keep pinnipeds out of salmon habitat without blocking navigation or fish passage. A new subsection (k) creates a separate permit program that lets the State of Washington and federally recognized tribes with treaty-reserved fishing rights apply for permits to carry out humane, intentional lethal takings in specified Washington waters (the subsection defines which waters are covered and explicitly excludes the Columbia River and its tributaries from that subsection). Permits may be effective up to 5 years, can be delegated, and may be suspended if the Secretary, after consultation, finds lethal removal no longer necessary. The bill requires a study of how these actions affect recovery of listed salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River system and a report to Congress within 10 years. The annual total of covered pinnipeds taken under subsection (k) cannot exceed 10 percent of the annual potential biological removal level.
No publicly available information on estimated costs or total appropriations. The bill creates a technology accelerator that is "subject to the availability of appropriations" and requires studies and annual reports, but it does not state funding amounts.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.