Investigation of Scientific Information on the Impacts of California Sea Lions and Pacific Harbor Seals on Salmonids and on the Coastal Ecosystems of Washington, Oregon, and California

In the 1994 Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Congress directed that a scientific investigation be conducted to "determine whether California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals a) are having a significant negative impact on the recovery of salmonid fishery stocks which have been listed as endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), or which the Secretary finds are approaching such endangered species or threatened species status: or b) are having broader impacts on the coastal ecosystems of Washington, Oregon, and California.” This report provides the results of the scientific investigation requested by Congress. 1997 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NWFSC (Northwest Fisheries Science Center) Library Public Domain 1861