TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE HONORABLE WILBUR ROSS, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, AND THE HONORABLE DAVID BERNHARDT, ACTING UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR:

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, Washington's waters are inhabited by a variety of salmon and other fish species, some of which are listed as endangered or threatened under federal law; and

WHEREAS, Washington has made major, long-term, public investments, including operating an extensive fish hatchery system, to achieve the goal of recovering and preserving healthy fisheries; and

WHEREAS, The federally listed southern resident killer whale population depends on having a sufficient supply of fish in Washington's waters; and

WHEREAS, Sea lions and other pinnipeds in Washington feed on fish, including protected salmon, and thereby interfere with the state's recovery goals for both fish and killer whales; and

WHEREAS, With the passage of the endangered salmon predation prevention act (ESPPA) in 2018, Congress formally recognized that "preventing predation by sea lions, recovery of listed salmonid stocks, and preventing future listing of fish stocks in the Columbia River under the Endangered Species Act of 1973" are vital priorities; and

WHEREAS, The ESPPA authorizes the intentional lethal taking of sea lions on the waters of the Columbia River and its tributaries for the purpose of preventing predation of protected fish; and

WHEREAS, Predation of salmon and other fish by pinnipeds is a matter of great concern in other waters in Washington beyond the Columbia River, including Puget Sound; and

WHEREAS, The state of Washington is responsible for preserving, protecting, perpetuating, and managing fish and wildlife in all state waters;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully ask that you take all actions within your authority to ensure that permits authorized under the ESPPA are approved and issued to the state of Washington as soon as practicable, and that you authorize all appropriate federal agencies and personnel to work cooperatively and efficiently with appropriate state of Washington officials, and native American tribes, under the marine mammal protection act to limit pinniped predation of salmon and other fish in Puget Sound and all Washington waters.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, the Honorable Wilbur Ross, United States Secretary of Commerce, and the Honorable David Bernhardt, Acting United States Secretary of the Interior.

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