Four California sea lions protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and two Steller sea lions protected under both the MMPA and the Endangered Species Act were found dead Sunday.

The shooting took place inside closed traps set out by Oregon and Washington agents - giving the sea lions no chance to escape the guns of trespassers - as part of a controversial program to remove sea lions. The HSUS has challenged that program in court as being irrational in light of other much higher sources of salmon mortality, like fishing and dams.

Last week, a federal appeals court issued an order preventing any killing of sea lions. However, the court has allowed trapping and live relocation to continue until the case is resolved.

"The cruel shooting of defenseless sea lions left vulnerable in government traps should mark the final chapter in this sad story of blaming sea lions for salmon declines in the Northwest," said Michael Markarian, The HSUS' executive vice president. "The agencies must investigate aggressively and halt the entire trapping program immediately."

The Case:

News reports give the following account: Four California sea lions and two Steller sea lions were discovered dead about noon Sunday floating in two government traps downriver from Bonneville Dam. The sea lions had apparently been shot. Both state and federal law enforcement officials are investigating the crime, which can carry penalties of up to $20,000 and one year in federal prison for each animal protected under the MMPA and up to $50,000 and one year in prison for each animal protected by the ESA.

The Investigators:

The National Marine Fisheries Service is investigating. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Stuart Cory at 301-427-2300.

Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service