Bottom line....Just MORE predators, total number wise....

I don't know about ALL the river systems BUT I do know the Chehalis...late 60's, 70's, 80, 90's, early 2000.....Above Montesano, there used to be a few seals but it was no big deal.....lots of both wild and hatchery fish, if the seals were a bother, just motor to a different area.

Now days the amount of seals AND SEA LIONS above Montesano, some days, are unbelievable. The amount of bank and boat fishermen makes it tough to "pick up and move"....so I just choose to wait until they leave or get full.

Westport has "lots" of both seals and sea lions...many of the floats are taken over by the sea lions....tourists like to see them, no natural enemies so numbers continue to increase...… grrrrrrrrr