Officials from the National Marine Fisheries Service have approved an application from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill California sea lions at Willamette Falls in an effort to try to save the state's beleaguered winter steelhead and spring Chinook.
Protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the state needed federal approval to take lethal action against the pinnipeds, which have been observed gorging themselves on endangered fish at the foot of the iconic waterfall.
"This is good news for the native runs...