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HOUSE
JOINT MEMORIAL 4008
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Passed
Legislature - 1995 Regular Session
State of Washington 54th
Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By
Read first time 01/17/95.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
Requesting
modification of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
TO THE
HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We,
your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of
Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and
petition as follows:
WHEREAS,
Harbor seal and sea lion populations have greatly expanded in recent years due
to the almost absolute protection afforded them under the federal Marine Mammal
Protection Act; and
WHEREAS,
Seals and sea lions are active predators upon anadromous fish such as salmon
and steelhead trout; and
WHEREAS,
Anadromous fish populations are significantly reduced in numbers throughout
Washington state, and some stocks have been listed as threatened or endangered
species; and
WHEREAS,
Many more anadromous fish stocks are likely to be listed as threatened or
endangered; and
WHEREAS,
In order to allow certain salmon and steelhead populations to recover to and be
sustained at viable levels, it will be necessary to have more flexibility to
manage seals and sea lions in identifiable areas where they cause unacceptable
mortality levels in specific fish runs; and
WHEREAS,
While recent amendments to the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act do allow
for lethal removal of problem seals or sea lions, the process established to do
so is cumbersome and time-consuming and will do little to protect the fish; and
WHEREAS,
Seal and sea lion predation of anadromous fish is a problem that has been going
on for some time and needs to be addressed with some urgency;
NOW,
THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Marine Mammal
Protection Act be modified to allow for a more common-sense approach to
managing predacious seals and sea lions, including provision for reasonable,
balanced, and prudent population levels of seals and sea lions in Washington
state and provision for the active management of abundant populations at set
levels determined with modern wildlife management science by federal and state
management agencies, including use of a less cumbersome lethal removal option
when and where necessary. In asking for these amendments, it is not our
intention to decimate or eliminate seals and sea lions but to find balance
between protection of marine mammals and protection of anadromous fish.
BE
IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the
Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the
United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each
member of Congress from the State of Washington.
