Posted by jinjimbob at 3/18/08 5:53 p.m.

Let nature takes its course, no need for killing ever, if the salmon die, so be it.

Let nature be.

Posted by OmManiPadmeHung at 3/18/08 6:13 p.m.

Humans could choose to create peace on the planet by abolishing the killing of all forms of sentient life. We would do just fine living on vegetables and grains, fruits, and perhaps initially some animal products such as cheese, milk and so forth. However, the protestations and rationalizations of various groups, mask our deeper greed and desire. No conscious being wishes to die. Why do we think we have the right to kill? Because we are stronger or are supposedly more clever?

Posted by cj in seattle at 3/18/08 6:35 p.m.

Is there something amiss with the sea lion's normal food supply? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before ultimate solutions are taken.

Unless of course we just like killing things.

Posted by ndnhawk at 3/18/08 7:21 p.m.

Why is there to many sea lions and to few salmon? I think it was because before humans never had a concern for their surroundings. We thought it was a endless supply of OUR natural resources.

If all the sea lions are eating the salmon, what's eating the sea lions. We are out of balance and if we can help that NOW, I think we should! You can't let nature take it's course if that course has already been altered by human greed and development.

Posted by SalishSailor at 3/19/08 8:14 a.m.

It's unfortunate that the media keeps saying that killing sea lions is going to "save" the salmon. Poor choice of words. Even the proponents of this extreme measure will readily admit it's not going to save any runs of wild salmon. On the fringes, it may make some differences in the number of adult salmon that make it past Bonneville Dam to spawn - but there are three more large dams on the Columbia mainstem, and for Snake River runs there are four more dams- each one taking its toll both on returning adult salmon as well as juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean. It's too bad that the powers that be will do absolutely anything except consider removing four expensive, outdated dams on the Snake - even though their own biologists say that Snake River runs would recover, and downstream runs in the Columbia would benefit as well. But let's all agree to call it what it is- culling sea lions to maybe help salmon a little bit, not "save" them.

Posted by unregistered user at 3/20/08 9:53 a.m.

I agree with some of what has been written so far. The problem with the Bonneville dam is that fish stack up in the pool until they find their way into the fish ladder. It's a target rich environment for hungry sea lions.

Are sea lions a part of the Columbia River Indians diet? If so, did the indians give up their right to hunt them in their treaties? Seems like this could be a way to get a group of folks together to hunt the dam area sea lions There are many indian fishing sites in the area already.

Another point is one my family has worried about for a long time. Nature thrives in a balance. I don't think that killing a few sea lions in the Bonneville dam are is going to save anything, but what normally eats the sea lions, and is there a problem with their population, health, or diet?

Posted by unregistered user at 3/21/08 10:30 a.m.

The post by OmManiPadmeHung says, "Humans could choose to create peace on the planet by abolishing the killing of all forms of sentient life." I didn't think anyone was so arrogant that they would promote the abolition of killing all forms of sentient life (evidently we can slaughter the non-sentient life all we want... plants don't care if they're killed). Are we to stop all the carnivores and omnivores out in the world from killing? And how do we do that? Kill them? Death is a part of life, and humans are a part of the web of life.

Posted by unregistered user at 3/21/08 10:46 a.m.

Salmon is an integral part of the diet, culture, and even religion of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. The preservation of sustainable salmon runs is of the utmost importance to all of these tribes. Measures such as the lethal take of a limited number of nuisance sea lions, while unfortunate, is regrettably necessary. For people to assume that the tribes should give up their "unenlighted" ways and give up salmon is no less culturally imperialistic as forcing religion on them or punishing them for speaking their native tongue. This isn't a sea lions vs. salmon issue; it's a salmon issue through and through. That we are even considering killing sea lions protected under the popular Marine Mammal Protection Act speaks to the magnitude of importance that we as a region place on this sacred and important fish.