The cumulative impact of predators (cormorants, terns, seals, sea lions, river otters and (gasp) harbor porpoise) is the 800 pound gorilla managers seem reluctant to acknowledge. Why? Simple, because doing anything about them is so difficult politically.

ESA listed rockfish remain a significant factor in our fisheries (the 120 foot rule) and threat of further marine protected areas and/or rockfish protected areas yet it is known that predators consume rockfish to include juveniles in their near shore habitat. Just how many? Hard to tell but total seal food demand in Puget Sound is between 25 and 30 million pounds annually. Even 1% of that poundage would be 250-300 thousand pounds then try to figure out how many are ESA species. Even a WAG puts it way above the few individuals NOAA/NMFS allows as sport impact.