Salmon Survival vs Seal Removal Debate | Spokane News

A new bill in Congress could flip the script on salmon conservation by giving states and tribes green light to lethally remove seals and sea lions — but critics say it’s a distraction from the real culprits: dams, climate change, and overfishing. While lawmakers from the Pacific Northwest push for expanded marine mammal removals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, conservationists argue that targeting predators ignores the bigger picture — and new data shows ocean fisheries are intercepting thousands of Chinook salmon before they reach rivers. Meanwhile, a harbor seal pup with a bullet in its head is recovering at a rehab center, a sobering reminder that harming marine mammals is already illegal. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee will soon weigh in — and the fate of salmon may hinge on whether we fix the system or just shoot the messenger. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ee8263d4663ef5b0