PORTLAND, Ore. -- A federal judge says the government can proceed with plans to kill up to 85 California sea lions a year at Bonneville Dam, where they gather annually to plunder the spring Chinook salmon run.

The Humane Society of the United States had sought to block the killings, claiming among other things that the sea lion predation was relatively insignificant compared to threats such as dams, fishing and hungry birds.

A Humane Society official, Sharon Young, said Wednesday the group will appeal.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman said in September that he hoped to rule quickly enough for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to decide the case before next spring.

The Humane Society filed a motion for the injunction back in March 2008.

Background: Humane Society asks to halt sea lion killing

Those favoring the removal said the sea lions are damaging salmon runs listed under the Endangered Species Act and protected at great expense.

The states estimate the sea lions eat up to about 4 percent of the spring chinook run as it schools at the base of the dam to pass through fish ladders en route to upriver spawning grounds.

The animals are protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972 but an amendment allows for lethal removal of some animals at the request of the states.

While the species was nearly wiped from hunting by the 1930s, it has prospered in recent decades and now is thought to number about 240,000.

The authorization to kill or remove sea lions also has strong support from Columbia River Indian tribes. Oregon and Washington with the support of Idaho, made the request in 2006.