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Marine Mammal Program
Overview
Sheanna Steingass, PhD
Marine Mammal Program Leader
Presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
02/07/2020
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
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
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210
Tota
l W
inte
r Ste
elh
ead P
ass
age
Serial Day (Starting December 1)
2018-19 Winter Steelhead 2019-2020 Winter Steelhead
Willamette Falls Winter Steelhead Counts to Date (2018-19 vs. 2019-20)
Willamette Falls
3118W Steelhead
Returned
512Returned 2017
33CSL Removed
At Willamette
W Steelhead
Vs.
25%Up to
7%W Steelhead
EatenVs.
44 identified
CSLs 2018-19
RED LINE =
Removal
YELLOW BOX
= not trapped
April 1
Willamette Falls
2018/19 Management Outcomes
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
BONNEVILLE DAM
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
Now-May: Willamette Falls California sea lion management
April-May: Bonneville Dam California sea lion management
June-July: Aerial surveys of harbor seals, Steller sea lions
Sept-Nov: Steller sea lion management
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Thank you – questions?Sheanna Steingass, PhD
Marine Mammal Program Leader
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
