1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) There are 13 groups of salmon and steelhead that are listed as threatened species or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 that migrate through the lower Columbia River. All lower Columbia River tributaries contain listed species including Chinook, Chum and Coho salmon as well as winter-run steelhead. (2) The people of the Northwest United States are united in their desire to restore healthy salmon and steelhead runs because they are integral to the region's culture and economy. (3) The Columbia River treaty Tribes retain important rights with respect to salmon and steelhead. (4) Federal, State, and Tribal governments have spent billions of dollars to assist the recovery of Columbia River basin salmon and steelhead populations. (5) One of the factors negatively impacting salmonid populations is increased predation by marine mammals, including California sea lions. (6) The population of California sea lions has increased 10-fold over the last 3 decades, and is currently approximately 300,000 animals. (7) Biologists estimate that in recent years as many as 3,000 California sea lions have been foraging from the lower 145 miles of the Columbia River up to Bonneville Dam during the peak spring salmonid run. (8) Historically, California sea lions, whose habitat is fundamentally salt water, did not venture very far up into the Columbia River. (9) The percentage of the spring salmonid run that has been eaten or killed by California sea lions at Bonneville Dam has increased 7-fold since 2002. (10) Federal, State and Tribal estimates indicate that sea lions are consuming at least 20 percent of the Columbia River spring chinook run and 15 percent of Willamette River steelhead run, two salmonid species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. (11) In recent years, California sea lions have congregated with greater frequency near Willamette Falls