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SJM8013 • 2026
Requesting Congress to amend the marine mammal protection act and the migratory bird act to allow the lethal removal of pinnipeds and predatory birds in Puget Sound in a manner similar to the recent changes authorized in the Columbia river to protect endangered salmon populations.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Pinnipeds, predatory birds
First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Pinnipeds, predatory birds
TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1 AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF 2 REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF 3 THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE NATIONAL OCEANIC 4 AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION: 5 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of 6 the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, 7 respectfully represent and petition as follows: 8 WHEREAS, Pinniped predation and predation by fish-eating birds 9 are significant threats to already critically endangered and 10 threatened salmon stocks in Washington and throughout the Pacific 11 Northwest; and 12 WHEREAS, Pinniped and predatory bird populations were once near 13 depletion. Now, these species have dramatically rebounded in recent 14 decades; and 15 WHEREAS, Congress adopted changes to the Marine Mammal Protection 16 Act in 2018 to modify the process for the removal of sea lions in 17 certain portions of the Columbia River and its tributaries; and18 WHEREAS, Enacting similar changes to the Marine Mammal Protection 19 Act for pinniped management in Puget Sound would protect salmon 20 populations listed under the Endangered Species Act; and21 WHEREAS, Managing predatory birds is a challenge in part because 22 of federal protection; 23 S-3494.1 SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8013 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senators Fortunato and Salomon Prefiled 12/01/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources. p. 1 SJM 8013 NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress 1 further amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Migratory Bird 2 Act to allow the lethal removal of pinnipeds and predatory birds in 3 Puget Sound similar to the recent changes authorized in the Columbia 4 River to protect salmon populations by: 5 (1) Allowing the state and treaty tribes to remove pinnipeds in 6 freshwater river systems and estuaries on the Columbia River and in 7 the Puget Sound where there are federally listed salmonids;8 (2) Requiring the National Marine Fisheries Service to process a 9 specific permit application for a watershed by a state or treaty 10 tribe within six months of receipt; and 11 (3) Eliminating the requirement of the National Environmental 12 Policy Act for the National Marine Fisheries Service to assess a 13 state or tribal application to remove pinnipeds. 14 BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately 15 transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United 16 States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 17 President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of 18 Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of 19 Washington. 20 --- END --- p. 2 SJM 8013