A federal clearance has been given to Washington State and Oregon to kill wild sea lions as they see fit. This is due to an effort to preserve the migrating Pacific Northwest salmon population passing across the West Coast from January to May.

Under the federal order, sea lions caught eating the salmon may be captured and killed within 48 hours if local wildlife authorities can't find an aquarium or zoo to house them. A total of 85 sea lions a year may be dealt with in this manner.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has taken the side of the two Pacific states who have for years reported sea lions gobbling up huge numbers of the salmon. The marine mammals have also been causing a bit of trouble in the local Bonneville Dam in the past five years.

While this may seem a bit harsh for the ocean critters, one can't argue that Oregon and Washington didn't try more peaceful means to deter sea lions from their feeding frenzies. Measures to stop them have ranged from noise barrages to rubber bullet shots.

The Pacific Northwest salmon population has been on the decline in recent years, affecting fisheries and alarming wildlife experts. If they are to flourish once more, the sea lions have to be dealt with one way or another.

Not everyone, of course, is convinced. Sharon Young, marine issues field director for The Humane Society of the United States comments "this is a waste of money, time and lives and diverts attention from the real problems the fish face."