West Coast Pinniped Program Investigations on California Sea Lion and Pacific Harbor Seal Impacts on Salmonids and Other Fishery Resources

This report provides the results of the West Coast Pinniped Program established in 1997 by NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to investigate the impacts of expanding pinniped populations on salmonids, especially ESA-listed salmon, and other fishery resources. The Program was primarily funded with Congressionally designated line-item funding of about $750,000 per year for “a study of the impacts of California sea lions and harbor seals on salmonids and the West Coast ecosystem.” Over 150 projects were completed through 2008 and are described in this report. The accomplishments of the West Coast Pinniped Program relative to the recommendations in the 1999 “Report to Congress: Impacts of California Sea Lions and Pacific Harbor Seals on Salmonids and West Coast Ecosystems” is presented in the conclusion.