Herschel the sea lion

Due to the volume of fish the groups would consume, attempts at deterring or removing Herschel and other young males became a yearly process that gained national media attention.

Additionally, the fish would spend several days resting in the estuarine area directly below the locks while undergoing the metabolic changes needed for the shift from salt to fresh water.

During the week of January 8, 1986, game agents attempted a harassment program using waterproofed firecrackers, nicknamed "seal bombs", in an effort to frighten away Herschel and other sea lions who had returned that winter to feed on the trout run.

[6] A bill to escalate the severity of actions allowed for use by the game agents was led by Jack Metcalf, then head of the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental committee.

On March 2, 1989, the Washington Senate majority voted to pass legislation allowing for the killing of seals and sea lions threatening fish runs by a margin of 34 to 12.

[8] The specific authorization was never invoked for sea lions in the Ballard Locks area, due to pressure from conservation groups and intervention by then Vice President Al Gore.