Juan Vargas: “Salmon recovery is economically and culturally important to the country. Recovery efforts must be rooted in science to…”

“Salmon recovery is economically and culturally important to the country. Recovery efforts must be rooted in science to address the most prevalent threats: fish passage at dams, pesticides, fishing pressures, interactions with hatchery fish, and habitat loss. Currently, there is very little scientific evidence that sea lion predation has played a significant role in the overall decline of these salmon stocks. My amendment would rectify this lack of scientific evidence by requiring the Secretary of the Interior study and report to Congress on the effects of lethal takings of sea lions on the recovery of salmon stocks in the Columbia River system. If we are going to expand the lethal takings of sea lions, we should make sure it will help the salmon recover. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”