Larry Legans, a Northern California fisherman accused of shooting a sea lion along the Sacramento River, pleaded not guilty Monday in Yuba City to a felony charge of cruelty to animals. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5 in Sutter County.
Legans had already been arraigned on misdemeanor charges but the more serious charge was leveled after it was learned the sea lion, which is being cared for at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, could die from its infected head wound. The sea lion, however, is eating heartily and appears to be on the mend.
A witness reportedly saw Legans shoot the pinniped in the face with a shotgun after it had stolen a fish from his hook. Sea lions, whose numbers have grown exponentially over the years, have become infamous for this tactic and some say they represent a serious threat to the fishing industry.
In Southern California they often shadow recreational fishing boats for hours, casually dining on fish after they've become hooked. Frustrated captains are certain the crafty mammals even teach this practice to their young, which compounds the problem.
But is it right to shoot them because of this? No. But some fishermen might disagree.
--Pete Thomas
Photo: California sea lions perched atop a buoy off Redondo Beach. Credit: Pete Thomas
These animals need to be controlled. If they cant do family planning. Kill them, make good source for omega 3. Fishing Ban is = Seal lion or seal Ban too. Otherwise, controlled culling should be done. Animal have more rights than humans anyways. If humans steal a fish. They go to jail. Seal Lion they get rewarded.
Posted by: Nathan | Dec 29, 2009 at 11:30 AM