S-3828.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8030

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Senators Oke, Owen, Hochstatter, Hargrove, Roach, Erwin, L. Smith, Spanel, Haugen and Snyder

Read first time 01/21/94.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Requesting a modification of the 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 seals and sea lion populations have greatly expanded in recent years due to absolute protection afforded them under the Federal Marine Mammals 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 stocks of anadromous fish have been requested for listing 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 actively manage seals and sea lions in identifiable areas where they cause unacceptable mortality levels in specific fish runs; and

    WHEREAS, The lethal removal of seals and sea lions is currently prohibited under the Federal Marine Mammals Protection Act in most all cases; and

    WHEREAS, It is time that the federal government allow that predacious seals and sea lions be killed in order for salmon and steelhead to be allowed a reasonable chance to survive;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Marine Mammal Protection Act be modified to provide for reasonable, balanced, and prudent population levels of seals and sea lions in the state of Washington and also provide for the active management of abundant populations at set levels determined with modern wildlife management science by federal and state management agencies, including the use of lethal removal when and where necessary.

    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.

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