Sea lions aren't the only ones being told to stay away from West Coast salmon. The dwindling salmon population led to a government announcement yesterday that most of the ocean on the West Coast would be closed to salmon fishing. The decision will allow state governors to apply for federal relief aid to the tune of $290 million.

"Today NOAA's Fisheries Service will close most of the West Coast salmon fisheries based on the recommendations of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council," James Balsiger, acting assistant administrator of fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, citing "low returns of fall Chinook salmon to the Sacramento River system."

Climate change and those adorable-but-pesky sea lions are being blames for the significant decline of the West Coast salmon population, thought they haven't officially declared either to be responsible for the "sudden collapse."

Those who love wild salmon as a source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids will face an increase in the cost of the fish, with only 60,000 salmon - about one-third of a healthy population -  expected to return to the Sacramento River this year.

"Given skyrocketing gas and food prices, getting aid to these fishing communities quickly is critical," Oregon Senator Gordon Smith said in a statement. "It's a matter of survival. This declaration allows us to begin pushing for funds immediately."

» Reuters Environnment