Protecting Columbia River Salmon Act of 2026

The Protecting Columbia River Salmon Act of 2026 allows specific federally recognized Indian Tribes with ancestral ties to the Columbia River to intentionally kill certain sea lions in the river. This change removes federal limits on how many California and Steller sea lions these tribes can take and when they can do so, while requiring that the killings be done humanely using methods chosen by the tribe. The law applies to the mainstem and tributaries of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon from River Mile 0 to the McNary Dam. By designating specific individuals to carry out the task, the bill aims to support tribal rights under existing treaties without restricting other legal authorities.