Marine Mammal Program Overview Presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission 02/07/2020 Sheanna Steingass, PhD Marine Mammal Program Leader sheanna.m.steingass@state.or.us
Marine Mammal Program Objectives Research behavior and ecology of pinnipeds in Oregon’s coastal and riverine environments Perform population and distribution surveys of pinnipeds, assess salmonid predation at coastal and inland sites Provide scientific evaluation of predation on fisheries resources and T&E species Collaborate with other states, tribes, and NMFS to manage predatory pinnipeds at designated sites in the Columbia River Basin
2018/19 Management Outcomes WILLAMETTE FALLS 2019 was first year of lethal management at Willamette Falls 33 habituated sea lions were permanently removed between Dec. 2018-May 2019 When animals migrated in May, all but 8 IDed animals had been removed There are still 37 animals listed for Willamette Falls; we do not know how many will return in 2020 (or when)
Willamette Falls
Willamette Falls CSL Removed 33 Willamette Falls Winter Steelhead Counts to Date (2018-19 vs. 2019-20) 2018-19 Winter Steelhead 2019-2020 Winter Steelhead At Willamette 3500 Total Winter Steelhead Passage 3000 W Steelhead Up to 2500 25% 7% Vs. 2000 Eaten 1500 1000 W Steelhead W Steelhead 500 3118 Vs. 512 0 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 Returned 2017 Returned Serial Day (Starting December 1)
Willamette Falls April 1 RED LINE = Removal 44 identified CSLs 2018-19 YELLOW BOX = not trapped
2018/19 Management Outcomes BONNEVILLE DAM A relatively small number of California sea lions arrived at Bonneville Dam in 2019 19 (over half of) California sea lions removed under new requirements (with new ‘and/or’ criteria) More than 40 Steller sea lions Spring California sea lion management will resume under the same authorizations in April 2020
Task Force, Legislative Changes Public Law 115- 329 ‘Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act’ Removes individually-identifiable criteria; animals above RM 112 qualify for removal Application submitted by States and Tribes earlier this year Task Force to be held in May NMFS will determine whether to approve/deny application and set new conditions for removal of California and Steller sea lions
Steller Sea Lion Management Steller sea lion management planned to begin in Fall 2020 pending NMFS approval Will be similar management program to California sea lions Collaborative interagency/tribal management Willamette Falls trapping dependent on Steller sea lion presence/use of traps
Steller Sea Lion Key Considerations 1. Safety 2. Logistics 3. Collaborative interagency team 4. Establishing protocols and ramp up 5. Careful, ethical, deliberate work
Program Developments Thanks to agency and legislative support, we have expanded our program’s capacity to perform both management and resume coastal research
Coastal Work – Program Objectives Resumption of coastal research Aerial population surveys Summer 2020: harbor seals, Steller sea lions Continue river surveys, EMB counts and resights Assessment of pinniped ecology on the coast; movement and food habits of harbor seals Continue to be a diverse but cohesive program
2020 Program Calendar JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Now-May: Willamette Falls California sea lion management JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC April-May: Bonneville Dam California sea lion management JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC June-July: Aerial surveys of harbor seals , Steller sea lions JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Sept-Nov: Steller sea lion management
Thank you – questions? Sheanna Steingass, PhD Marine Mammal Program Leader sheanna.m.steingass@state.or.us Acknowledgments ODFW Marine Mammal Program B Wright, M Brown, S Riemer , S Valentine, B Triplett, D Heiner, Z Kroneberger , E Nass, B Sorenson, C Owen, E Warren, K Sandoval, J Burco, C Gillin ODFW C Melcher , E Bowles, S Clements, D Fox WDFW S Jeffries, E Johnson, C Pasi, T Barker, K Lee IDFG C Kozfkay, M Drew, D Whitney, R Hand NOAA R Anderson, B DeLong CRITFC, Grand Ronde, Siletz, Warm Springs, Umatilla Tribes D Hatch, B Begay BPA K Tidwell, B Hausmann PSMFC D Colpo, S Kirk OSP, CCSO Sgt. N Thompson, Sgt. C Allori Willamette Falls 2018 Sea Lion Task Force
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