West Seattle seal pups update

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

The residents who first sounded the alarm about the net fishing vs. seal pups problem off Anchor Park say the fishing crew in question (shown in the photo above, provided by those residents) hasn’t been back since last weekend. Some reports suggested the net might have belonged to the Suquamish Tribe, which is still investigating, so there’s no confirmation at this point who was to blame, nor about the fate of the pups that were photographed. … Also regarding the seals who continue showing up on West Seattle shores, we have heard from Brenda Peterson of the Alki Seal Sitters, who has two things she wants you to know: “With the beautiful weather there is a lot of foot and dog traffic, so we are asking people to please leash their dogs, especially now. Several pups were almost attacked this past weekend by off-leash dogs — the number one predator of seal pups on the beach.” Brenda also says there is a fishing derby off Harbor Ave this weekend and volunteers are needed to keep watch over any seals that may haul out during the tournament; e-mail us if you might be available to help (be sure to include a phone number) and we will forward your contact information to Brenda.

cleat October 23, 2007 (3:55 pm)

re park name … yes Luna Park .. never heard of it being called Anchor Park before …

http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/seattle/viewpoints/luna.htm

http://www.rcdb.com/pd781.htm

http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3496

re park name … yes Luna Park .. never heard of anchor park before …

Vanessa October 23, 2007 (4:15 pm)

I am truly not a violent person. But when I see and hear stories like this, it makes me wonder how this fisherperson would feel with a club upside his head. This kind of cruelty makes me almost cry. I hope that he is identified and punished. He is no man, beating a poor helpless little animal. Karma, buddy, the spirits are watching you.

CandrewB October 23, 2007 (5:24 pm)

How has this not become bigger news. Some D-bag clubs a baby seal to death off Alki and the news is ho-hum about it?

Kayleigh October 23, 2007 (5:54 pm)

Amen, Vanessa.

WSB October 23, 2007 (6:18 pm)

CandrewB – there was some tv news coverage over the weekend.

CandrewB October 23, 2007 (6:36 pm)

Remember Mooey. I still remember than dog’s name. That was all over the news. This made a few of the outlets.

JD October 23, 2007 (6:57 pm)

It was all over the news this weekend, but my problem is that the news NEVER follows through. I’ve been sickened by this sorry since I first saw it and I’ve been waiting to hear about a possible investigation against this heartless piece of poo. After seeing the face of the poor little seal, I want to see justice served.

Jo October 23, 2007 (6:57 pm)

Cleat –
I’ve never heard it called Luna Park. Almost everyone I know calls it Anchor Park. Kind of a nickname, I guess.

Strange, huh?

mrwillow October 23, 2007 (7:12 pm)

Suquamishn are Baindbridge – Agate Pass, between here and not Anchor Park. More like Poulsbo.

The House October 23, 2007 (7:58 pm)

I once heard a seal say “But we’re never gonna survive unless we get a little bit…….CRAZY”.

Jan October 23, 2007 (8:24 pm)

Mr. Willow…Suquamish are native american…they have boats…..and probably come over to Puget Sound :)

Matt Durham October 23, 2007 (9:47 pm)

According to a NOAA rep, I talked to more than a week ago, the same fisherman pulled a seal pup from the gill net in the same location. I witnessed the fisherman, photographed, pulling salmon from his net shortly after the photograph was taken. I am sorry I did not record the name of the NOAA rep.

grr October 24, 2007 (10:03 am)

why haven’t the authorities tracked this guy down??? Should be pretty easy by tracing the ##’s on the side of his ‘boat’.

mrwillow October 24, 2007 (3:07 pm)

Jan – Yes, they do have boats, but it is probably not their “usual and accustomed place”. And, if they violated that provision, I am sure the Muckleshoots would be all over their case, in Spades.

And, injunctions, and ?

mrwillow October 24, 2007 (3:19 pm)

grr – Why don’t they track the Tuna boats down that kill many, many thousands of porpoise while trying to feed your desire for tuna sandwiches. It’s called funding, or lack of it.

Remember, a seal may be a mammal – but a porpoise is also.

Jan October 24, 2007 (3:40 pm)

Mr. W., according to the information that I was reading their usual and accustomed areas are just about all of Puget Sound from Vashon/Blake all the way up to the San Juan Passage. So it’s possible that it might have been Suquamish, or just about any other tribe with the same usual and accustomed fishing areas. I had the same thought as grr.. There is a number on the boat..is that not traceable?

Matthew G. Miller October 24, 2007 (4:28 pm)

I am following this story for the West Seattle Herald. Feel free to e-mail me information you may have.

Matthew G. Miller October 24, 2007 (4:30 pm)

…at matthew (dot) g (dot) miller (at) juno (dot) com.

grr October 24, 2007 (4:58 pm)

mr willow..
while I agree the tuna boat issue is a major one, it’s not an applicable analogy here. Here we have a pretty blatant, obvious violation, and a pretty easy way to catch the person…Kinda like the RedLight Running Traffic Light Photos.

mrwillow October 24, 2007 (8:20 pm)

Jan – the usual and customary, is a tribe by tribe determination. Just because some tribe (nation) used to fish there, does not mean that any tribe can fish there now. They had to do so in the past, presumably, before their treaty was signed.

grr – I partially agree, and if there is a valid ID number, yes, by all means SIC’ EM. But, believe me it is a valid analogy in that ,IF, Fish and Wildlife (State/Federal) wanted to persue it, boats that fish for tuna are also known. And, if they are big enough, they have onboard observers (Federal) when they are fishing, ergo, the Feds apparently don’t care.

In all fairness, though, I believe such incindental species are called “Non target species”, and have to be thrown back overboard, albeit, most are dead. Sound familiar?