A U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reintroduces salmon into a Central Valley river.
Aerial view of restored floodplain habitat and agricultural property near Sacramento, California.
Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 120 Pinniped Removal on the Columbia River: Chronology of Events
Chronology of Events Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 120 Process for Lethal Removal Authority for Problem California Sea Lions in the Columbia River Basin.
2020 Events
August 2020 – NOAA Fisheries authorizes the eligible entities a permit under the Marine Mammal Protection Action Section 120(f) to lethally remove predatory California sea lions and Steller sea lions in the Columbia River Basin
May 2020 – NOAA Fisheries establishes and convenes a Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force
Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force - May 12-14, 2020 - Meeting Summary (PDF, 33 pages)
Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force - May 12-14, 2020 - Report and Recommendations (PDF, 14 pages)
2019 Events
June 2019 – the eligible entities submit an application under Marine Mammal Protection Action Section 120(f) requesting authorization to intentionally take, by lethal methods, California sea lions and Steller sea lions to reduce or eliminate sea lion predation on at-risk species in the Columbia River Basin.
MMPA Section 120(f) Cover Letter, June 13, 2019
MMPA Section 120(f) Application, June 13, 2019
June 2019 - NOAA Fisheries issues Coordination Procedures under the Marine Mammal Protection Action Section 120(f)(2)(C) to intentionally take California sea lions and Steller sea lions in the Columbia River Basin
Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 120(f)(2)(C) Coordination Procedures (PDF, 9 pages)
April 2019 – NOAA Fisheries issues a revised authorization to the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to lethally remove predatory California sea lions at Bonneville Dam that are having a significant negative impact on at-risk salmonids (PDF, 18 pages)
2018 Events
December 2018 – Congress passed Public Law 115-329 (PDF, 4 pages), the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2018, amended Public Law 103-238, the MMPA Amendments of 1994, by replacing section 120(f) California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals; investigation and report, with a new section 120(f) Temporary Marine Mammal Removal Authority on the Waters of the Columbia River or its Tributaries.
November 2018 - NOAA Fisheries authorizes the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to lethally remove predatory California sea lions at Willamette Falls that are having a significant negative impact on at-risk salmonids MMPA Section 120 Letter Authorizing Oregon to remove California Sea Lions at Willamette Falls (PDF, 6 pages)
November 2018 - Federal Register Notice
August 2018 – NOAA Fisheries establishes and convenes a Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force 2018 Final Report (PDF, 13 pages)
2017 Events
October 2017 - the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife submit a request for authority to lethally remove predatory California sea lions at Willamette Falls
State of Oregon Application (PDF, 56 pages)
State of Oregon Cover Letter (PDF, 4 pages)
2016 Events
June 2016 - NOAA Fisheries authorizes Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to lethally remove individually identifiable California sea lions at Bonneville Dam that are having a significant negative impact on at-risk salmonids (PDF, 14 pages).
May 2016 - NOAA Fisheries reconvenes Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force.
February 2016 - NOAA Fisheries accepts states' application; followed by public comment period (PDF, 1 page).
January 2016 - Washington, Oregon, and Idaho submit a new request for authority to lethally remove predatory California sea lions at Bonneville Dam (PDF, 9 pages).
2013 Events
October 2013 – Letter of Authority & Bonneville Field Report (PDF, 19 pages).
September 2013 – U.S. Ninth Circuit rules in favor of NOAA Fisheries (PDF, 14 pages).
March 2013 – States 2013 plan to manage sea lions in the Columbia River Basin (PDF, 3 pages).
February 2013 – U.S. District Court rules in favor of NOAA Fisheries (PDF, 45 pages).
2012 Events
May 2012 – Federal judge rejects Humane Society of the U.S. request to halt California sea lion removals while its lawsuit against the program proceeds.
March 2012 – Humane Society of the U.S. files lawsuit.
March 2012 – NOAA Fisheries authorizes Washington, Oregon and Idaho to remove salmon-eating California sea lions.
2011 Events
November 2011 – 2011 Pinniped–Fishery Interaction Task Force Report released (PDF, 15 pages).
October 2011 – Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force reconvenes.
September 2011 – NOAA Fisheries accepts states' new application; followed by public comment period.
August 2011 – Washington, Oregon and Idaho submit a new request for authorization to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam that are feeding on ESA-listed salmon and steelhead (PDF, 23 pages).
August 2011 – Court dismisses legal case.
July 2011 – NOAA Fisheries to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam; program removals to date total 37 animals: 10 to public display facilities, one died during health exam, 26 euthanized by veterinarian (PDF, 1 page).
May 2011 – Humane Society of the U.S. files lawsuit.
May 2011 – NOAA Fisheries authorizes Washington and Oregon to remove salmon-eating California sea lions
January 2011 – decides to fix "flaws" in sea lion removal program rather than seek further review of Ninth Circuit Court's decision.
2010 Events
December 2010 – Release of 2010 Pinniped–Fishery Interaction Task Force Report (PDF, 16 pages).
December 2010 – States request that letter of authorization be reissued to them (PDF, 6 pages).
November 2010 – Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decides that authorization for removal program must be revised (PDF, 30 pages).
October 2010 – Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2008-2010 (PDF, 55 pages).
September 2010 – Pinniped–Fishery Interaction Task Force reconvenes, in accordance with letter of authorization following third season of sea lion removals.
2009 Events
October 2009 – Corps of Engineers' Field Report, 2009 (PDF, 37 pages).
2008 Events
December 2008 – Plaintiffs appeal.
November 2008 – District Court upholds NOAA Fisheries' approval of lethal removal program.
September 2008 - States' Field Report, 2008 (PDF, 7 pages).
May 2008 – Agreement with the Humane Society of the U.S. suspends lethal removal program.
May 2008 – 6 sea lions die of heat prostration after two unattended traps in Columbia River close on them.
March 2008 – Humane Society of the U.S. and others file lawsuit in U.S. District Court.
March 2008 – NOAA Fisheries authorizes Washington, Oregon and Idaho to remove salmon-eating California sea lion.
January 2008 – NOAA Fisheries releases draft environmental assessment on states' application; followed by public comment period.
2007 Events
November 2007 – Release of 2007 Pinniped–Fishery Interaction Task Force Report (PDF, 16 pages).
August 2007 – NOAA Fisheries establishes Pinniped–Fishery Interaction Task Force.
January 2007 – NOAA Fisheries accepts states' application; followed by public comment period.
2006 Events
December 2006 – Washington, Oregon and Idaho submit request for authorization under to lethally remove California sea lions at Bonneville Dam that are having significant negative impact on the decline or recovery of ESA-listed salmon and steelhead.
March 2006 – Oregon, Washington, the Corps, and NOAA expand testing of non-lethal deterrence measures to reduce California sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead below Bonneville Dam.
February 2006 – Corps monitors seal and sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead February – June; adult salmon/steelhead run taken during that period was 2.8 percent.
2005 Events
May 2005 – Oregon, Washington and NOAA Fisheries conduct short-term research project to test non-lethal deterrence measures to reduce California sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead below Bonneville Dam.
March 2005 – Corps notifies Oregon, Washington and NOAA Fisheries that California sea lions are particularly active in dam's tailrace, predation rates appear to be increasing, and one animal (branded number C404) was observed feeding in adult fish passage ladders.
February 2005 – Corps monitors seal and sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead February – June; adult salmon/steelhead run taken during that period was 3.4 percent.
2004 Events
February 2004 – Corps monitors seal and sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead February – June; adult salmon/steelhead run taken during that period was 1.9 percent.
2003 Events
February 2003 – Corps monitors seal and sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead February – June; adult salmon/steelhead run taken during that period was 1.1 percent.
2002 Events
February 2002 – Corps monitors seal and sea lion predation on salmon and steelhead February – June; adult salmon/steelhead run taken during that period was 0.4 percent.
2001 Events
April 2001 – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fisheries Field Unit begins documenting seal and sea lion predation on fish in Bonneville Dam tailrace.
2000 Events
2000 – Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion calls for evaluation of seal and sea lion (pinniped) predation in the tailrace of Bonneville Dam.
More Information
MMPA Section 120 Pinniped Removal Program: Columbia River and Willamette River
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reintroduces salmon into a Central Valley river.
Aerial view of restored floodplain habitat and agricultural property near Sacramento, California.
