Book Description

Marine mammals were given Federal protection in 1972 with the enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Act has been very successful in protecting and restoring marine mammal species to abundant levels. The California sea lion population is an example of the Act's success. However, the high number of sea lions is having an adverse impact on salmon and steelhead species listed under the Endangered Species Act. In 1994, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was amended to authorize the use of deterrence methods to reduce sea lion predation on the listed fish species. nonlethal removal measures have not been successful. H.R. 946 would require the Secretary of Commerce to make a determination that nonlethal deterrence measures are not working to protect listed salmon species.