A $20,000 reward is being offered for anyone with information leading to the identification of people on board a boat that deliberately drove into a group of sea lions. Here’s the video, but also a WARNING because it does feature some animal cruelty:
It might not be something you’re aware of, but there is a lot of animosity between people who enjoy fishing and sea lions.
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We certainly weren’t aware of this bizarre ongoing feud until just a few minutes ago.
You see, the anglers and the pinnipeds – flipper-footed marine mammals – are both out there for the same thing – to catch fish.
The sea lions need it to survive, and the fishers are just out there for a bit of a laugh – unless they’re fishing commercially.
Anyway, the sea lions – it turns out – can be damaging to gear, as well as stealing catches.
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That doesn’t mean that you should be running them over with a boat, though.
However, that’s exactly what this person in a boat on the Columbia River in Oregon did.
Now, the NOAA – National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration – is offering up a $20,000 reward to anyone who can help identify the boaters.
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The sea lions were just resting when the boat came full tilt at them, breaking rules set out in the Marine Mammal Protection Act that forbid anyone from harassing, killing, capturing, or hunting marine mammals.
In recognition of the fact that sea lions can be a nuisance for river users, there are ‘approved, non-lethal methods’ of deterring seals and sea lions, but they only apply when fishing and when fishing gear is deployed.
Once again, those approved methods would not include driving your boat right through a group of them.
The boat in question has been described as an aluminum Hewescraft ProV Sea Runner, which is about 20 feet long and has a dark blue stripe, a soft top, and a Yamaha outboard motor.
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It also has a Barewest Fish & Wake Tower, if you know what one of those things is.
The NOAA has asked that anyone with information about the incident, or the vessel involved, contact them directly on (360) 310-0259 or call their 24/7 enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964.
The incident took place on April 3, near to Hayden Island on the Columbia River, heading eastwards away from the Interstate bridge.
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We aren’t sure whether any of the sea lions were hurt in the incident.
NOAA spokesperson Michael Milstein said: “We try to work with the fishing community to provide options to manage the approach of sea lions but these animals are wildlife.
“They’re protected by the marine mammal protection act.
“We are certainly taking this seriously.
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“These animals come back to the Columbia River every year to some extent.
“They’re drawn to food, usually the same species in some cases anglers are going for and we need to provide them the space and respect they need to live.”
Tom Wood