"The states of Oregon and Washington agreed on Wednesday to suspend euthanizing sea lions caught feasting on endangered Columbia River salmon until September while the courts consider a lawsuit challenging such killings.

The states contend that the California sea lions, which swim 140 miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean to gorge on salmon and steelhead trout at the Bonneville Dam, are a threat to the recovery of the fish.

But critics argue that other factors, such as commercial and recreational fishing and barriers posed by hydroelectric projects, inflict far greater harm and could be better regulated to protect salmon moving upriver to spawn."

Teresa Carson reports for Reuters May 26, 2011. [2]