Non-lethal Deterrence of California sea lions at Bonneville Dam Ballard Locks

Steven Jeffries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Robin Brown, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Brent Norberg, NOAA-Fisheries Robert Stansell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Pinniped-fishery interaction task force 4 September 2007 MMPA Section 109(h)

[TAKING OF MARINE MAMMALS AS PART OF OFFICIAL DUTIES.]

(1) Nothing in this title or title IV shall prevent a Federal, State, or local government official or employee or a person designated under section 112(c) from taking, in the course of his or her duties as an official, employee, or designee, a marine mammal in a humane manner (including euthanasia) if such taking is for—

(A) the protection or welfare of the mammal,

(B) the protection of the public health and welfare, or

(C) the nonlethal removal of nuisance animals.

(2) Nothing in this title shall prevent the Secretary or a person designated under section 112(c) from importing a marine mammal into the United States if such importation is necessary to render medical treatment that is not otherwise available.

(3) In any case in which it is feasible to return to its natural habitat a marine mammal taken or imported under circumstances described in this subsection, steps to achieve that result shall be taken.

Options for non-lethal deterrence of sea lions

• physical barriers • acoustic barriers • land and/or vessel harassment • seal bombs • crackershells/shellcrackers • rubber bullets Physical barriers 1 = net Physical barriers 2 = SLEDs

SLEDs

• Sea lion exclusion devices (SLEDs) installed at fishway entrances • 12 entrances, 2 sections each, 15 3/8” gaps • Designed to allow salmon passage

© 2006 by Transco Industries, Inc. Acoustic barriers = Acoustic Deterrent Devices

Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADD)

• 205 decibel, 15 kHz frequency acoustic projectors installed at fishway entrances • March – May 2006 • ADDs turned on at 0500 hrs on hazing days, turned off at 2000 hrs at the end of each 2-day treatment • No significant effects on salmon passage Other barriers ie Smith Root electric shock grid

Does it impact fish passage? Will it work on CA sea lions ? Where can it be deployed? Non-lethal harassment from land Non-lethal harassment from boats CA Sea Lion Deterrent Activities at Bonneville Dam

•2005: Initial tests – From land and boats, 2 days in April; 2 days in May

•2006: Full evaluation tests ACOE/States/CRITFC) for effects on fish passage; 2 days on-off, 4 days on-off, April-May

•2007: Total hazing program 7 days/week– ACOE/WS from dam/shore Feb-May; States/CRITFC from boats March-May

8

Steller sea lions California sea lions 6

4

2 Number of takes per approximate hour effort

0

Feb Mar Apr May 2007 Other Options

Capture and haul Capture, hold and haul Remove permanently Capture and haul Capture and haul continued Capture, hold and haul Capture, hold and haul further Capture, hold and haul further con’t Lethal Removal via MMPA Section 120 Process WDFW’s Ballard Locks Sec. 120 Authorization

FedExed to Sea World Orlando Remove lethally

State’s Columbia River Section 120 Application Questions?

Marker 85 Trap & Corner Collecter (RM 145)

BRC MC PH2 RA PH1 SP WR HR BL Dodson (R M 140) TC mi BRZ 00.51 (a.)

(b.)