Sea lion culling in Ore. backed by judge

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 27 (UPI) -- A federal judge has ruled that killing up to 85 California sea lions each year will be permitted to protect salmon at Oregon's Bonneville Dam.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman said by allowing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill a maximum of 85 sea lions annually for the next five years, the fish population of the Columbia River will not be decimated, The (Portland) Oregonian said.

State wildlife officials have blamed sea lions for the decline of the regional salmon population as the animals regularly travel to the dam in Bonneville, Ore., to seek out the fish.

The National Marine Fisheries Service already gave officials in Oregon, as well as Idaho and Washington, the authority to take action against the sea lions to protect the river's fish supply.

Mosman's ruling Tuesday said only the worst offenders in the sea lion population may be targeted and only as a last resort.

But animal advocates nonetheless oppose the decision as the Humane Society has already pledged to appeal Mosman's ruling, the Oregonian said.