SSJM 8005 - H COMM AMDS

By Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife

On page 1, line 9, strike "absolute"

On page 1, line 10, strike "Mammals" and insert "Mammal"

Beginning on page 2, strike the remainder of the act and insert:

"WHEREAS, The well-known situation of "Herschel the sea lion," at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, is an excellent example of marine mammal predation that is seriously harming a particular anadromous fish run and which has yet to be thwarted by nonlethal means; and

WHEREAS, A long-term member of the Washington State Senate, who recently passed away, Senator A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen, had long championed the last resort solution to the "Herschel" problem, which is lethal removal; and

WHEREAS, It is time that the federal government allow lethal removal of predatory seals and sea lions in order for specific salmon and steelhead stocks to be allowed a reasonable chance to survive;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress recognize the wisdom of Senator A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen and modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act to: 1) authorize state or federal agencies to lethally remove, where appropriate, marine mammals causing significant damage to other valuable natural resources; 2) continue to allow individual fishers to protect their gear and catch by lethally removing animals which are not threatened or endangered; and 3) to provide a framework that allows the active management of abundant populations at stable

and healthy levels determined with modern wildlife management science by federal, state and tribal management agencies.

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, the Chairs of the Senate and House Committees charged with reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington."

EFFECT: Makes technical changes and identifies specific changes sought in the Marine Mammal Protection Act: 1) to authorize state or federal agencies to lethally remove, where appropriate, marine mammals causing significant damage to other valuable natural resources; 2) to continue to allow individual fishers to protect their gear and catch by lethally removing animals which are not threatened or endangered; and 3) to provide a framework that allows the active management of abundant populations at stable and healthy levels. Changes references to shooting or killing to "lethal removal".