Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act. This bill will help reduce sea lion predation on threatened and endangered fish populations.

Salmon and steelhead are an important part of our heritage in the Pacific Northwest, and they are facing devastating threats. At present thirteen salmon and steelhead populations in the Columbia River, Willamette River, and Snake River systems are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Because of successful conservation efforts under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, California sea lions have fully rebounded and have reached carrying capacity. Many of the thriving species are moving up the Columbia River for easy access to migrating salmon and steelhead. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, between 2002 and 2015 California sea lions consumed an estimated 46,000 salmonids within a quarter mile of the Bonneville Dam. It is unlikely that we will see the necessary recovery of threatened and endangered fish populations without responding to the ongoing predation by sea lions in the region.

Oregon's economic vitality relies on the health of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. The natural resources in our region support a significant portion of our economy, and we are very vulnerable to changes to our ecosystem. Healthy salmon and steelhead runs support the commercial and recreational fishing industry, guiding and outdoor retail businesses, restaurants, and coastal communities that benefit from tourism. In addition to the troubling effects on the region's ecosystem, sea lion predation is harmful to tribal fisheries. Tribes have fishing rights and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fish populations threatened by sea lions. The health of native fish runs is dependent on Congressional action to protect these threatened species from sea lion predation.

This bill will allow for more efficient intervention by allowing states and tribes to apply for permits to remove sea lions along the Columbia River and its tributaries. I am pleased to see changes to this bill in its amended form, including the removal of language that would undermine the National Environmental Policy Act. The revised language is the result of negotiations with a coalition of local stakeholders, tribes, and agencies in Oregon and Washington State. I appreciate the Ranking Member's concerns that this bill only addresses one of the many threats facing our salmon and steelhead populations, but it is an important step toward mitigating the damage to the fish population. We must continue to address the threat of sea lion predation and avoid further loss of irreplaceable species of salmon and steelhead in our region. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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