Sea lions at Willamette Falls subject to more hazing under bill passed by Oregon House

OregonLive: Sea lions at Willamette Falls subject to more hazing under bill passed by Oregon House

SALEM -- "Hazing" of California sea lions that munch on salmon would increase to seven days a week during peak fishing season on the Willamette River, under a bill approved by the Oregon House.

The vote for House Bill 3255 was unanimous. Lawmakers displayed little sympathy for the hungry, out-of-state pinnipeds.

"The California sea lion is not even an Oregon sea lion," protested Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton. "It is not native to our shores."

Anglers who fish near Willamette Falls complain bitterly about the loss of salmon to sea lions, which swim all the way up from the coast to feast on easy-to-get fish that gather near the falls.

The law allows hazing -- generally driving boats through groups of sea lions and shooting fireworks to scare them off -- five days a week. The bill approved Monday provides money to expand the operations to seven days a week for three months each year, from February through March.

That's prime season for spring chinook, a favorite of salmon eaters of all breeds.