Full Breakdown
Congress Considers Expanding Pinniped Culling to Aid Pacific Northwest Salmon
7/24/2026, 5:04:49 AM
Core Legislative Proposal
The Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026 (H.R. 9621), introduced July 9 by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) and Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA), would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to let Washington state and Western Washington tribes lethally manage sea lions, harbor seals, California sea lions and Steller sea lions across all state waters. The bill removes geographic limits that currently confine lethal permits to portions of the Columbia River Basin, eliminates the requirement that chemical euthanasia be the sole method, and authorizes up to 10 % of the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level outside the river system while allowing an unlimited number of kills within the basin.
Background & Context
Fourteen salmon and steelhead species in Washington are listed as endangered. Their decline is linked to climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and predation. In 2018, Congress authorized a limited program to capture and euthanize sea lions in the Columbia River Basin under Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which restricts lethal permits to specific areas and to chemical euthanasia.
Data & Statistics
- Three harbor-seal pups with gunshot wounds have been treated by SR3, a nonprofit sea-life response facility, in the past year.
- The legislation would permit unlimited kills in the river basin and 10 % of the PBR elsewhere, effectively establishing a cull.
- Scientists note that habitat degradation, dam barriers, runoff contaminants (e.g., 6PPD-quinone), and temperature spikes are primary drivers of salmon loss.
Official Statements & Responses
- Nate Pamplin, director of external affairs at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, called the effort “pretty exciting.”
- The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, representing 20 treaty-recognized tribes, supports the legislation to protect tribal fishing rights.
Criticism & Opposition
- Jared Huffman, top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, argued the bill “goes too far” without adequate safeguards.
- Val Hoyle warned that sea lions move between Washington and Oregon, making a single-state solution ineffective.
- Maxine Dexter cautioned that predation is only one factor and broader ecosystem restoration is required.
- Richard Merrick, retired NOAA chief science adviser, said the proposal is well-intentioned but unlikely to boost salmon recovery, noting new sea lions would replace culled individuals.
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez questioned the focus on harbor seals and introduced a narrower bill targeting only California and Steller sea lions.
On-the-Ground Reports
SR3, a nonprofit rehabilitation and research facility in Des Moines, has treated three seal pups with gunshot injuries this year, reflecting local tensions over pinniped interactions with fisheries.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Proponents contend that expanded culling will reduce predation pressure on salmon and help meet recovery goals. Marine scientists and the Washington State Academy of Sciences argue that habitat loss, dam barriers, climate change, and pollution are the dominant threats, and that removing predators could trigger trophic cascades harming juvenile salmon. No quantitative impact assessment of pinniped removal on salmon populations has been presented.
What’s Next
Supporters indicate that if the measure clears the House Committee on Natural Resources, it will advance to a full House vote. Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s Protecting Columbia River Salmon Act of 2026, which narrows the scope to California and Steller sea lions, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
