[ODFW-News] MEDIA ADVISORY: Federal and state agencies to assess sea lion hazing methods

[Odfw News]

Media advisory 
 
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
 
Federal and state agencies to assess sea lion hazing methods
 
PORTLAND - A multi-agency operation to research the effectiveness of
non-injurious methods of hazing sea lions will take place this week in
the tailrace area immediately below Bonneville Dam. The two-day project
is expected to begin mid-morning Thursday and end mid-afternoon Friday.
All activities will take place during daylight hours.
 
The hazing assessment will be led by NOAA Fisheries and will involve the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Washington and Oregon departments of
fish and wildlife, and the Oregon State Police. 
 
Plans call for operating four boats in the tailrace area of Bonneville
Dam, a part of the river usually off limits to all boats for safety
reasons. The boats participating in the assessment are being supplied by
NOAA Fisheries, the two state wildlife agencies and OSP. Because the
operation will take place immediately downriver of the dam while the
spillways are open, all four boats must first pass a Coast Guard
inspection. Three boats will be used for hazing, and the fourth will
serve as a safety boat. Each of the hazing boats will be staffed with a
pilot, a hazing operator and a monitor.
 
The effort will begin with agency staff using noise-making, flare-type
guns and percussive devices from the top of the dam to startle sea lions
into moving away from the area. Once the sea lions have moved far enough
away from the dam and fish ladder, the four boats will launch and begin
attempting to drive the sea lions farther downriver with the use of
additional non-injurious acoustic and percussive devices. 
 
Monitors on each of the three hazing boats will record the effectiveness
of the hazing methods by watching how far and how long sea lions move
away from the dam. The goal is to learn whether any of the deterrents
will encourage sea lions to permanently leave the area. 
 

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Notes to media 
 
Most of the boat activity is scheduled to take place on the Washington
side of the river below Powerhouse 2. The best locations for viewing the
effort are expected to be along the frontage road that parallels
Washington SR 14 or at the boat ramp area.
 
One or more representatives from some of the participating agencies will
be available at the boat ramp to answer questions Thursday, 1-3 p.m.,
and Friday, 10 a.m. - noon. For on-site information during those times
call 503-702-4407.
 

General agency contacts for background information (not on-site
information):
 
NOAA Fisheries: Brian Gorman, 206-526-6613
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Margaret Ainscough,
360-902-2408
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Ann Snyder, 503-947-6010
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Diana Fredlund, 503-808-4510
 
 
 
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