I know, right? ... Did they mean to say seals?... Sea Lions don't live in the Puget sound...(?)...

Yup. The pictures are sea lions... LOL. I didn't realize they had migrated this far North. Guess I don't get out much...

We have sea lions here in southeast Alaska, so obviously they live even further north than Seattle. I'm sure they were sea lions.

I think it was Professor Pelican, under the pier, with the pistol.

Actually, the sea lion population has gotten a little out of control.

We've decimated the great white sharks that prey on them. And the anadromous fish (steelhead and salmon) that they feed on have been nearly wiped out by dams, fish hatcheries, logging, agrculture, and fishing (tribal, recreational, and commercial).

Sea lions may be large cuddly looking mammals that make cute barking noises, but the truth is that they are no different ecologically speaking than any other animal.

That doesn't excuse anyone breaking the law, but perhaps it's time to rethink the marine mammal protection act.

Nope--rethink the fisheries and stop killing the apex predators. Anything that gets in the way of mankinds greed gets killed. Time to shut down those who step over the line. Don't fine them cause that only gets passed on to the end product--no deterrent--take their fishing permit away for a few years.

The more these Dept of Fisheries and other offices continue to mess with the balance of life, the more imbalance there is. The Shark populations have plummetted and they want to continually kill off sea lions to control the populations and save the salmon. Haven't they realized yet, it is the persistent meddling with nature that is causing collapse of fish populations, and actually is destroying our oceans. These scientists, think they have all the answers but all of their answers when implemented just add to the process of decline and end up causing other problems that weren't foreseen in the first place. Leave nature alone and it will take care of itself and the balance will return. How hard is that? Life will find a way.

The penalty could range from fees to possible jail time.

I sure hope they meant fines, not fees. Fees are something you pay in order to be allowed to do something...

@Slinger, do you have a science degree? The scientists don't have all the answers but are trying to correct the problems caused by overfishing and pollution. As a former fishery biologist I had to constantly remind people that we manage resources to prevent its loss. To do what you suggest, we would have to leave nature alone AND prohibit all fishing (sport and commericial) to allow nature to rebound on its own. Remember that nature was in perfect balance until Man started exploiting its resources. But since the public will never accept a total prohibition on fishing (or other exploitation of resources such as hunting), we need the fish and wildlife departments to regulate it.

When you talk about overfishing, you need to look towards Southeast Asia as well as Japan. Too many times when talking to the local fishermen, the price of what they caught plummeted because the canneries where flooded with Salmon caught by the Japanese.

My money is that the shooter was a commercial fisherman all right, but a native american one. Tribal poachers are notorious up here and they will let nothing stop them from their harvest, whether it is the white man's law or some pesky sea lions.

Just google "washington state poachers indians" and you will see what I mean. They have done the same thing with elk and deer...slaughter just for fun. Of course the spineless PC state government does virtually nothing about it.

I think that they probably listened to alot of grunge music and took their own lifes.....

i hope they keep killing the dam things theres way to many of em.

People?

Wake up, this is how the world works. Everything survives by destroying something else, absolutely everything. One living thing cannot survive without harming something else and if you think otherwise you are out of your mind.

You talk of 'Survival of the Fittest" which had been the law of nature on this planet until Mankind advanced beyond the control of that law. Now we have tipped the scales of balance because of modern medicine, machinery, and high powered weapons that do not require humans to do battle with the elements of weather or the creatures that we fight or hunt as we once had to do in the not to distant past. It was more or less an even competition to exist and to survive, and there was a balance to the natural order of things that nature could sustain. That natural order does not exist anymore, it shows every where and it simply cannot be sustained at this rate. We will reach a tipping point in which Mankind will find that he has run out of resources to exploit, and it shows by the suggestion that Seals are now a competition for some Salmon. This was not the case a couple of hundred years ago.

Mankind grew and advanced in technological intelligence beyond the control of Mother Nature, but has not yet acquired the intelligence to realize that it is that balance that also sustains us. We can manage the planet much better which would be to our advantage, but that would require long term thought which gives some people headaches. It's called management. The Stewart's of the Earth? We can't even manage our own conduct

alessa and michael anderson have got it exactly right. the rest of thse negative posts who want the seal lins killed...shame on you. commercial fishing shuld be banned and those stupid dams need to come down. marine mammals cannot go to the grocery store nor can they plant gardens. the food in the sea is rightfully theirs. commerical fishing is raping the ocean and starving other animals.

They have a right to eat just like any human or other animal!

@alessa

I understand you have strong feelings about this, and I do not in any way condone the wanton killing of any living being, but I would appreciate it if you would clear up a couple of things for me:

(1) "animals ... have more right to this planet than we do" --- What constitutes a right? Who or what determines which beings are deserving of rights, and which are not?

(2) "Mankind has none (sic) little more than destroy, burn and deface this planet." How many hospitals have sea lions built?

"Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel." ---Horace Walpole

Uncollapse STEVE-402's comment!!!!!!!

Even I do not agree with what he says but free speech is what makes Newsvine possible. Collapsing a comment if it is one's opinion is shameful behavior. If you cannot see this on a subject such as this topic, then surely none of us are worthy to discuss even more important ones you may start on another vine (or will you collapse that if it is not you think is important?)

If you want censorship and partake in a forum that only allows one way of thought...then you should go live in North Korea.

They're only doing what's natural for them. Funny, Steve is so ignorant he can't even spell profanity words(the word is "Damn", not "Dam"). Yeah, as if I really care what some guy who can't even spell four-letter words thinks.

@alessa, you should try thinking with reason and not feelings, its a shame someone did this but as you pointed out man has tipped the scales and some species have become overpopulated because of over protection. their is even a group that thinks it has to go to the beach and babysit the young. that's a example of over protection. the human race is the only creature on this planet that protects other species, and at times that creates a problem. nature is cruel and you just have to live with it, there is competition for food and nothing will change that, go have some fish and chips and think about it. or would you prefer to starve your self to save the fish as well. oh stay away from the veggies farms are encroaching on wildlife.

D Buck-2239568

"and some species have become overpopulated"

Like the 7 billion and counting Humans.

Maybe the Feds could start a Federal program handing out condoms to these wayward seals?!!!!!!!!!!!!!... LOL!!!!!! NO SOUP FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well...that's real mean spirited on the part of the praying person...praying that harm will come to someone...

no wonder our world sees so much atrocity...when people pray that others should suffer harm...

why not pray that the "shooter" should have a change of heart, instead, and repent of his actions?

@NyNy; Please don't pray for the world.

vilmos levay - "why not pray that the "shooter" should have a change of heart, instead, and repent of his actions?"

LOL - Like that's going to happen????? NO

Maybe you would like the fishermen to be on welfare, it must be a selfish thing that makes them go to work every day to feed the people of the world. Yes, stop the fishing, farming in thei country, cause you folks know all the food comes from the grocery store. Ha,Ha!!

So Tom, how's it feel to over react?

Yeah, I'm sure it's the sea lions that are decimating the runs of sturgeon and salmon. It couldn't possibly be sports fishing, commercial fishing, tribal fishermen putting nets across rivers even though it's illegal for everyone else, poachers, pollution...those sea lions are so darn greedy!

disusted, are you really that ignorant??? jeepers, you leave me at a loss for words!!!!! What an idiodic thing to say!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you mentally deficient, Disgusted?

It's the humans decimating the fish. Not the sea lions. Good gods man, I didn't think it was possible to meet someone as ignorant as you.

As a former fishery biologist, it's the humans who've decimated the fish populations. The seals are only trying to live on what's left, but the problem is that Man has distroyed his share of the fish stocks and now wants to take seals' share. I'm not siding with the seals or enviromentalists, but only pointing out that the seals are not the major culprit in the decline of fish stocks. As an example, it's like giving a bag of cookies to two kids. One kid eats 3/4's of the bag while the second kid eats the remaining 1/4 of the bag, but the second kid gets blamed for eating all of the cookies just because he ate the last few.

You may be right. Who's the say they won't turn to shooting people once the thrill of shooting sea lions is gone? It's been shown that many serial killers got their start by torturing and killing animals before moving on to human victims.

@Lloyd,

Now how could they shoot a gun with flippers ???

If I looked like "Wilfred Brimley", I would find a way. Bookem' Dano.

@!$%#in shame

No, you aren't, asknreceive. Why not help reduce the world population by 1.

Yeah! I think seal meat is going for $00.35 a pound.

US(braindead/washed)-citizens should stop worry about animals and worry about people they kill. I would. Those animals are nothing. People you kill are Children of God. You beasts will definitely pay.

Don't worry about me, I have been in the States enough times and above all it's my land. So you insurgents on my soil (America) beware!

Lisa, I hope that you had someone take dictation for your book. If you use Run on sentences/paragraphs like the one above, Im sure it will be a blockbuster at your local Head shop. Keep the Day job.

It's a terrible balance between controlling the population in most animal communities. Left to their own, some species will eat themselves out of the ecosystem. While I disagree with random shooting of the sea lions, perhaps engineering their migration, by the groups that watch them, could allow them to share the sea with other creatures. That, after all was one of MANKIND's original job's.

Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." In this case, subdue means to control the animal instinct to allow a symbiosis with nature, so that one kind does not break the chain for others. If we as MAN keep acting like Cochroaches going from place to place, using up all the land. minerals, and animals we destroy ourselves. IF we subdue and farm the land, the animals, and the minerals in a way that (re-produces growth) then we have created the EDEN that we started from.

As long as there is greed over who's fish they are, of course, that won't happen.

Lisa, have you ever eaten horse meat? It is actually very good. You are very right, Lisa. The animals are talking to us. I raise pigs and other pets on my farm. When it is time to SLAUGHTER one of my chickens or pigs or sheep, my pets all clammor, "PICK ME! PICK ME!". Well, at least that's what I get from it.

You folks scare the wits out of me. Do not kill animals, do not hunt, do not slaughter, do not fish and do not ranch. After all, we believe animals have the right to roam freely and thrive as we do. Sorry to tell you but either the animal world has not figured out how to create a Wall Street or they already occupied and destroyed their version. So now, they want to depend on US for food, housing, medical care, etc. And the racism and levels of crime among animals is horrifying! I mean, seals eating salmon, cats eating mice, lions eating wildebeasts...WHERE DOES ALL THIS INSANITY END???? Why, just the other day a magpie was seen in my neighborhood stealing eggs from a blackbird. I personally think it was racially motivated, but I have no proof, as the magpie left before law enforcement could show up. I believe the solution to this problem is in raising taxes to hire more police so that the animals world can be kept safer from all the predatory species out there. As is the norm, the majority of these misguided rubberheads are pro-abortion; go figure. Now, in deference to your concerns, I shall go eat a big bowl of rocks, hahaha!

However, I better go get the shotgun away from the cow; she is looking a little mad today. And finally, since you gave us permission, SHUT UP!

Aimsbetter, you are partially right. Although the sea lions are a major contributor to the decimation of the fish and crabs, so are the giant vacuum ships from other countries.

Most countries have a 200 mile border to keep other countries out; this stupid government of ours has only allowed for a three to twelve mile border, which aloows all nations, including our enemies to come withing strinking distance to grab all of our fish and other resources. If you don't believe that, go to any store that sells frozen salmon, cod, pollock or haddock. Read the package. It will say, "Wildcaught in American waters. Product of China."

THe biggest solution is to increase our borders to what other countries have and protect what the Lord gave us as a nation.

Fred4Congress,

Most countries have a 200 mile border to keep other countries out; this stupid government of ours has only allowed for a three to twelve mile border, which aloows all nations, including our enemies to come withing strinking distance to grab all of our fish and other resources.

This is untrue. As typical you are stating hearsay and urban myth as factual evidence. You are also confusing Territorial Waters which average in range from 3 – 12 nautical miles to Exclusive Economic Zones which Average in range from 200-220 nautical miles.

Territorial waters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters

List of maritime boundary treaties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_maritime_boundary_treaties

Proclamation 5030--Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States of America

Source: The provisions of Proclamation 5030 of Mar. 10, 1983, appear at 48 FR 10605, 3 CFR, 1983 Comp., p. 22, unless otherwise noted.

WHEREAS the Government of the United States of America desires to facilitate the wise development and use of the oceans consistent with international law;

WHEREAS international law recognizes that, in a zone beyond its territory and adjacent to its territorial sea, known as the Exclusive Economic Zone, a coastal State may assert certain sovereign rights over natural resources and related jurisdiction; and

WHEREAS the establishment of an Exclusive Economic Zone by the United States will advance the development of ocean resources and promote the protection of the marine environment, while not affecting other lawful uses of the zone, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, by other States;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the United States of America and confirm also the rights and freedoms of all States within an Exclusive Economic Zone, as described herein.

The Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States is a zone contiguous to the territorial sea, including zones contiguous to the territorial sea of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (to the extent consistent with the Covenant and the United Nations Trusteeship Agreement), and United States overseas territories and possessions. The Exclusive Economic Zone extends to a distance 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. In cases where the maritime boundary with a neighboring State remains to be determined, the boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone shall be determined by the United States and other State concerned in accordance with equitable principles.

Within the Exclusive Economic Zone, the United States has, to the extent permitted by international law, (a) sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, both living and non-living, of the seabed and subsoil and the superjacent waters and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds; and (b) jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, and installations and structures having economic purposes, and the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

This Proclamation does not change existing United States policies concerning the continental shelf, marine mammals and fisheries, including highly migratory species of tuna which are not subject to United States jurisdiction and require international agreements for effective management.

The United States will exercise these sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with the rules of international law.

Without prejudice to the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the United States, the Exclusive Economic Zone remains an area beyond the territory and territorial sea of the United States in which all States enjoy the high seas freedoms of navigation, overflight, the laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh.

And space unicorns are eating all of the lollipop mushrooms.

Do you have scientific evidence to back up your assertions or do you just like to make unsubstantiated claims on the internet?

Chickens have 2 wings each X 6 = 12 wings total. Well, you did say you were tired... ;-p