National Marine Fisheries Service Allowing Controversial Research on Alaskan and West Coast Steller Sea Lions
WASHINGTON -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act in issuing numerous permits authorizing invasive research on threatened and endangered Steller sea lions on the west coast of the United States.
The research involves the annual capture and hot branding of 3,000 Steller sea lions. Some of those caught and branded will be as young as six days old. After branding, the sea lions are further subjected to painful research procedures, including teeth extraction and removing of fat and other tissue samples, often with no anesthesia.
"The Humane Society of the United States supports efforts to find out why Steller sea lion populations have declined over the past decade," said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS. "But authorizing wide-spread invasive research on an endangered species without the in-depth environmental review required by federal law is not the way to do it."
NMFS contends the research is necessary to determine the nature and extent of the decline of this species. The HSUS, however, believes the research itself is poorly conceived and could have adverse consequences for the Steller sea lion.
Before filing suit late yesterday, The HSUS asked NMFS repeatedly to conduct a proper environmental evaluation of the effects of the research; to convene an expert panel to review the best methods of research; and to place a moratorium on the issuance of any further research permits until it has completed an evaluation of impacts of the current research. To date, NMFS has been unwilling to make such commitments.
"Such an irresponsible approach to wildlife research is completely unacceptable," said Dr. John Grandy, senior vice president for wildlife and habitat protection for The HSUS. "The obligation of scientists and the government to do no harm while conducting research is greatest when dealing with endangered species, whose very future can be jeopardized by invasive or harmful protocols."
The suit charges that the government has unlawfully approved activities that will cause Steller sea lion deaths in numbers that may have a significant irreversible impact on the species. In a preliminary environmental assessment, the agency admitted it was unable to determine the cumulative effects of the research on the population and that no monitoring program was in place to evaluate effects of the research. Nevertheless, the agency continues to issue permits without these minimal protections.
Research has been conducted on Steller sea lions since a sharp population decline was identified in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, public attention grew increasingly more focused on the ongoing decline and possible impacts by commercial fisheries in Alaskan waters. In 2001 and 2002, Congress appropriated approximately $80 million for Steller sea lion research, the largest research effort on a single species in the history of the U.S.
The plaintiffs in the case are represented by the law firm of Latham and Watkins.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than nine million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
