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.

 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.

TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, Pinniped predation and predation by fish-eating birds are significant threats to already critically endangered and threatened salmon stocks in Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest; and

WHEREAS, Pinniped and predatory bird populations were once near depletion. Now, these species have dramatically rebounded in recent decades; and