http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2014/07/07/call-to-action-oppose-the-planned-killing-of-16000-cormorants-along-the-columbia-river-1602
Cormorants are being targeted simply
because they eat salmon
Photo: Sea Shepherd The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced plans to shoot thousands of double-crested cormorants in the Columbia River Estuary beginning next year.
Much like California sea lions at the Columbia River, cormorants are being targeted simply because they eat salmon. Federal officials are claiming that these seabirds, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, eat too many juvenile salmon, as well as steelhead, as the fish migrate through the river estuary to the Pacific Ocean. The proposed cull program would claim the lives of 16,000 cormorants over the course of four years, with killing taking place during the birds’ nesting seasons. Oil will also be spread over cormorant eggs to suffocate the eggs and ensure that they do not hatch. While the Army Corps emphasizes the increase in the East Sand Island double-crested cormorant population in recent years, populations of these birds in general have been declining and the sustainability of this large-scale cull is questionable at best.
Sea Shepherd’s Dam Guardians were on the frontlines along the Columbia River and at the Bonneville Dam in 2012 and 2013, documenting the hazing, trapping and cruel branding of sea lions by the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the “crime” of eating salmon. If any of the branded sea lions are determined to be eating “too many” salmon, they are killed – and the federal government has allowed these states to kill up to 92 federally protected sea lions each year until June 2016. It is important to note that “too many salmon” might constitute just one salmonid. The sea lion cull continues, despite the fact that they consume only 1-4% of the salmon, while fisheries are typically allowed to take 10-12%.
USDA bird hazer sets off explosives at the
Bonneville Dam, May 2013
Photo: Sea ShepherdThe Army Corps reports that non-lethal methods – including “hazing with lights, reducing nesting habitat, and using human presence to flush double-crested cormorants off potential nesting sites” – have been tested. Sea Shepherd has documented bird hazers from the USDA harassing cormorants along the river, frightening the birds with explosives.
Just as the taxpayer-funded culling of sea lions at the Bonneville Dam will not solve the problem of a declining salmon population, nor will the shooting and killing of cormorants – set to cost up to $1.5 million each year of the four-year cull. The scapegoating of these innocent animals redirects the public’s focus from the real problems at the Columbia – overfishing, a polluted river filled with toxins, and the dam itself.
CALL TO ACTION: Though Sea Shepherd does not currently have Dam Guardians on the ground, we remain dedicated to protecting the animals who call the Columbia River home and exposing the true threats to this endangered salmon population. Please join us in speaking out against the planned killing of 16,000 cormorants for the “crime” of eating salmon. Here are ways you can help:
1) Attend one or both of the upcoming public meetings scheduled by the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the proposed cull to show that you stand with the cormorants and the sea lions, as well as the salmon:
July 10 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm PT
Matt Dishman Community Center
77 N.E. Knott St.
Portland, Oregon
July 24 from 3pm to 6pm
Best Western Lincoln Inn
555 Hamburg Ave.
Astoria, Oregon
2) Submit public comments against the cull:
Email: Cormorant-EIS@usace.army.mil
Mail:
Sondra Ruckwardt
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
Attn: CENWP-PM-E / Double-creasted cormorant draft EIS
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946
The deadline for public comments is August 4, 2014.
First sea lions. Now cormorants. Where and when will it end?
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Exposing the Big Game 
Why don’t they look more into recreational fishing of the salmon?
Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD".
Well, Americans have to blame all their fkups on their wildlife. This is just more of the same old, same old. I will not even cross the border to shop there anymore and I would advise Canadians to quit wasting money in that country that kills everything under the sun and then some. The USDA WS kills 4 million animals a year, then we have these disgusting DECs, DNRs, US Army Corp. The USA is already that unnatural controlling Orwellian society we used to have nightmares about.
“Federal officials are claiming that these seabirds, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, eat too many juvenile salmon, as well as steelhead, as the fish migrate through the river estuary to the Pacific Ocean. ”
……oh, you mean Cormorants are doing what they have been doing for thousands of years but suddenly animals eating fish isn’t OK with ‘federal officials’. Well federal officials…cormorants were there before the US of Azzholes existed and maybe you should show some respect. What the hell is wrong with you people???
Fair question!
I only wish Canada was setting a better example for us, wildlife-wise.
You also have the USDA Wildlife ‘Services’ killing 4 million animals per year on your dime; you also have a DEC that wants to wipe out all the mute swans in several states including NY. you also have the BLM killing wild horses, you people kill everything for every reason under the sun including a few geese pooping on lake front property.
Also…90% of British Columbians are against grizzly hunting. It is British Columbians at the forefront against grizzly hunting. So I think we are setting a better example for you.
“90% of B.C. Hates the Grizzly Hunt, So Why Are We Still Doing it?”
http://www.desmog.ca/2014/04/15/90-b-c-hates-grizzly-hunt-so-why-are-we-still-doing-it
“In 2001, after years of work, Raincoast achieved a three year moratorium on the provincial grizzly hunt only to have it overturned when Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government came to power later in the year. Clearly, we needed a different strategy.”
http://www.raincoast.org/projects/grizzly-bears/troph-hunting/
“Nine coastal First Nations have declared bans on bear hunting in their traditional territories. The Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate, and the Council of the Haida Nation say hunting is not allowed in the areas that largely cover the Great Bear Rainforest, though the ban is not recognized by the province.
In 2005, Raincoast began buying out commercial bear hunting licences in B.C. The group now owns the guide outfitting rights to more than 28,000 square kilometres of land in the Great Bear Rainforest on the north-central coast.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/british-columbias-controversial-spring-grizzly-bear-hunt-now-open/article17764866/
PS….maybe you want to share and sign another petition for another American government agency. Thanx.
Petitioning Wildlife Services
Stop slaughtering millions of wild animals
https://www.change.org/petitions/wildlife-services-stop-slaughtering-millions-of-wild-animals
Geoff…since links seem to be sending my comment to moderation I will print this information without links.
90% of British Columbians are against grizzly hunting. It is British Columbians at the forefront of the fight against grizzly hunting. So I think we are setting a better example for you.
“90% of B.C. Hates the Grizzly Hunt, So Why Are We Still Doing it?”
“In 2001, after years of work, Raincoast achieved a three year moratorium on the provincial grizzly hunt only to have it overturned when Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government came to power later in the year. Clearly, we needed a different strategy.”
“Nine coastal First Nations have declared bans on bear hunting in their traditional territories. The Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate, and the Council of the Haida Nation say hunting is not allowed in the areas that largely cover the Great Bear Rainforest, though the ban is not recognized by the province.
In 2005, Raincoast began buying out commercial bear hunting licences in B.C. The group now owns the guide outfitting rights to more than 28,000 square kilometres of land in the Great Bear Rainforest on the north-central coast.”
It is Canadians leading the fight against grizzly trophy hunting…and it’s mostly Americans who are hunting them. An american grizzly hunter was killed May 14, 2014 recently, shot when they went back to try to get a grizzly he had only injured the day before. “A story in Washington’s Daily News Online says Cooper had shot and wounded a grizzly bear the day before and was tracking it down the following morning when it charged his hunting party. Cooper’s two guides fired, according to the report, and Cooper, who was standing in front of one of them, was struck and killed.:
And Geoff…I will also point out, Sea Shepherd was founded by Paul Watson, a Canadian environmental activist and also a founding member of Greenpeace..another group that originated in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Quote from Paul Watson about where he grew up in Canada: “Love the country, hate the people.”