71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 2071
 
                     House Joint Memorial 4
 
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
  Presession filed (at the request of former Representative Terry
  Thompson for Representative-elect Alan Brown)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Urges Congress to amend Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow
state and federal agencies to remove pinnipeds preying on
endangered or threatened salmonids.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
  of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas the State of Oregon has established a statewide plan
for the restoration of the endangered salmonid species in Oregon;
and
  Whereas the National Marine Fisheries Service has adopted
protective regulations to aid in the enforcement of the federal
Endangered Species Act and has deployed enforcement officers in
the State of Oregon; and
  Whereas many salmon stocks continue to decline, making
predation by pinnipeds an increasingly significant issue for
recovery of these fish stocks; and
  Whereas the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended,
has proven ineffective in managing harbor seal and California sea
lion predation on salmonids; and
  Whereas pinniped predation remains unaddressed in Oregon's
groundbreaking salmon recovery and watershed restoration plans;
and
  Whereas public confidence and support of the collaborative
Oregon Plan will be undermined unless the State of Oregon has the
power to utilize all available means to recover salmonids; now,
therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Congress of the United States is urged to reevaluate
conflicts between the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended,
and endangered or threatened species recovery and to amend the
Act where necessary to resolve those conflicts.
  (2) The Congress of the United States is further urged, as
recommended by the National Marine Fisheries Service, to grant at
least limited management authority for state and federal agencies
to remove pinnipeds preying on listed salmonids if it can be
shown by state or federal agencies that the pinniped population
is adequate to ensure continued viability of the pinniped
species.
  (3) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to each member of the
Oregon Congressional Delegation.
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