Astoria Sea Lion Branding Sparks Outcry

One of the tactics used to manage problem sea lions that feast on endangered salmon and steelhead at the Bonneville Dam buffet on the Columbia has attracted the attention of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The same activists that brought you Whale Wars are upset about the method the ODFW employs to tag problem animals for lethal removal or adoption by aquariums. That method? Branding. ODFW argues that branding does not harm the animals, despite them occasionally catching fire, and that there is no evidence supporting Sea Shepherd's claim of at least one animal dying in the process.

Good luck convincing the animal rights groups who are already actively fighting tooth and nail to stop the lethal removal program all together. Regardless of the science this is a public relations loser.

LINK (via: OPB)

Tuna Wars

Sea Shepard is sending two boats to patrol Libyan waters for tuna poachers. The boats will carry divers ready to cut the nets of fishing boats to free the tuna

LINK (Via: MSNBC)

Sea Shepard Operation Blue Rage

The veterans of Whale Wars, the Sea Shepard Conservation Society, have turned their attention to Atlantic bluefin tuna and have dispatched the Steve Irwin to the Mediterranean.

The Irwin recently engaged Libyan and Italian trawlers towing what were likely illegally netted tuna. The Irwin was able to get divers into the water to cut open one of the two nets releasing 800 tuna.

The Libyans and the Italians are not pleased.

Neither is this guy.