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Vashon council urges state not to seek weakening of Marine Mammal Protection Act; motion carries 25–4
Summary
After presentations and scientific briefings, the council voted 25–4 to ask Washington state legislators not to pursue bills that would seek federal changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act that could permit killing pinnipeds in Puget Sound to benefit salmon recovery.
Joe (speaker S7) introduced a motion asking the council to tell Washington's legislature not to request changes to the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act that would permit killing seals or sea lions in Puget Sound. He framed the motion as opposing "love letters" to Washington D.C. that would ask federal law to be relaxed for the state's benefit.
Theo Anker (S17) presented scientific context and cited three studies—the Salish Sea study, a Washington Academy of Sciences review, and a Nature journal analysis—arguing that the drivers of Chinook declines are complex and that removing pinnipeds alone is unlikely to restore salmon runs. "There is no scientific evidence, actually, that killing these seals will actually help the salmon," he said, and he warned that removing predators can produce decades-long ecosystem changes. After debate and brief additional discussion of tribal harvest and cultural practices, the council voted to ask legislators not to pursue weakening federal protections; the chair recorded the final tally as 25 in favor and 4 opposed.
