Sea lions feeding on migrating salmon in Washington and Oregon may soon meet an untimely demise. The National Maine Fisheries Service has given permission for those states to do away with sea lions who are eating the sparse population of U.S. Pacific Northwest salmon.

Up to 85 sea lions may be killed each year and Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to begin the efforts after April 1. Experts have attempted to use preventative measures such as physical barriers, rubber bullets and noisemakers to stop the sea lions from feasting on the spawning salmon to no avail. The government agency has set parameters for killing the sea lions; the creatures can only be killed between January 1 and May 31 if they are caught eating the salmon and the sea lion must be caputure and held for 48 hours while fishery workers attempt to find them a new home in a zoo or aquarium. If there is trouble capturing the animal safely, they can be shot in the water.

Not surprisingly, animal activists are vocally opposing the fishery order, as sea lions are currently protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

"This is a waste of money, time and lives and diverts attention from the real problems the fish face," Sharon Young, marine issues field director for The Humane Society of the United States said. The HSUS supports "non-lethal harassment" of sea lions at Bonneville Dam.

How exactly does one decide which life has more value: that of a sea lion or that of a salmon? Does it not seem counterproductive to save one species by killing another? One would hate to see what happens if a human is caught illegally fishing for salmon in these areas.

» Reuters Environment