A bill aimed at improving the survival rate of endangered salmon, steelhead and other native fish species in the Columbia River system is now one step closer to becoming a law after it advanced through the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.
The bipartisan bill titled “Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act” was introduced by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground. It will now go to a vote on the U.S. House floor.
The legislation provides tribal and government fish managers with the means to remove limited numbers of sea lions from specific areas.
“As long as sea lions continue to overpopulate the Columbia River and decimate our salmon and steelhead populations, I will work to protect our fisheries,” Herrera Beutler was quoted in a press release. “I am pleased to see our efforts to promote salmon recovery moving forward.”
According to numbers provided in the press release, the consumption of salmon and steelhead by sea lions has grown nearly five-fold over the last four years from 1,402 fish in 2013 to 6,371 fish in 2016.
The release also states that protecting salmon populations helps secure a future for recreational fishing in Washington state, an industry that contributed 4,811 jobs, generated $498 million in sales and contributed $361 million to the state’s gross domestic product in 2014.
