rogerdodger
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with Sea Lion activity and larceny coming up often, thought I would post links on the legal deterring actions under the MMPA. Whether anything can or should be done to deter these fur bags while fishing/boating is a seperate discussion, this info is just what is allowed under the law and what is not.
(FYI- the CA Sea Lion is listed by IUCN as a species of "Least Concern due to a large and increasing population size.")
"The MMPA does not allow private citizens to deter marine mammals from undeveloped property (e.g., a beach) or public property (e.g., a breakwater). Private citizens may deter Pacific harbor seals and California seal lions that are exhibiting problem behavior resulting in, or that could result in, damage to private property, fishing gear or catch."
This PDF from NOAA has the actual methods allowed:
from the top of page 2, what you can do while actively fishing with gear deployed to protect gear or catch:
Visual Repellents/Noise Makers:
• boat hazing, circling
• pounding on hull
• pyrotechnics (e.g., bird screamers, bangers, underwater firecrackers, cracker shells)
• starter pistols
• horns, bells, whistles
Physical Contact:
• slingshots
• non-toxic and water soluble paint ball guns
• non-lethal ammunition (e.g., rubber bullets, sabot rounds, game stingers)
what you cannot do:
Methods to Avoid – The following methods and techniques have an increased likelihood of causing injury or death and should be avoided.
• No Firearms with “live” (lethal) ammunition
• No Devices with Injurious Projectiles (e.g., archery gear, crossbows, spear guns, bangsticks)
• No Sharp/Pointed Objects (e.g., harpoons, spears, gaffs, nail studded bats/poles/clubs)
• No Entangling Devices (e.g., loose webbing, snares, concertina wire)
• No Aggressive Tactile Methods (e.g., striking animals with bats, hammers etc., impact with vehicles or boats )
• No Tainted Baits or Poisons
(FYI- the CA Sea Lion is listed by IUCN as a species of "Least Concern due to a large and increasing population size.")
"The MMPA does not allow private citizens to deter marine mammals from undeveloped property (e.g., a beach) or public property (e.g., a breakwater). Private citizens may deter Pacific harbor seals and California seal lions that are exhibiting problem behavior resulting in, or that could result in, damage to private property, fishing gear or catch."
This PDF from NOAA has the actual methods allowed:
from the top of page 2, what you can do while actively fishing with gear deployed to protect gear or catch:
Visual Repellents/Noise Makers:
• boat hazing, circling
• pounding on hull
• pyrotechnics (e.g., bird screamers, bangers, underwater firecrackers, cracker shells)
• starter pistols
• horns, bells, whistles
Physical Contact:
• slingshots
• non-toxic and water soluble paint ball guns
• non-lethal ammunition (e.g., rubber bullets, sabot rounds, game stingers)
what you cannot do:
Methods to Avoid – The following methods and techniques have an increased likelihood of causing injury or death and should be avoided.
• No Firearms with “live” (lethal) ammunition
• No Devices with Injurious Projectiles (e.g., archery gear, crossbows, spear guns, bangsticks)
• No Sharp/Pointed Objects (e.g., harpoons, spears, gaffs, nail studded bats/poles/clubs)
• No Entangling Devices (e.g., loose webbing, snares, concertina wire)
• No Aggressive Tactile Methods (e.g., striking animals with bats, hammers etc., impact with vehicles or boats )
• No Tainted Baits or Poisons
