Why are Sea Otters Important? No Sea Otters. No Kelp Forests.
Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. They eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp. Without sea otters, these [...]
Game Teaches Kids About Sea Otters, Ecosystem Health and Dangers of Pollution
We all know that the children are our future. And those who are trying to preserve the health of marine ecosystems, sea otters and other marine mammals, and the quality of life along the California coast struggle how to teach the next generation these important concepts. Now, a collaboration between scientists at University of California, [...]
Sea Otter Conservation Workshop VIII
By Dr. Michael J. Murray, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Dr. David A. Jessup (retired), California Department of Fish & Wildlife From Friday afternoon March 22 through Sunday March 24 sea otter conservationists, researchers, veterinarians, trainers, program managers, graduate students, field workers, advocates and others folks met at the Seattle Aquarium and discussed all things sea [...]
As Salmon Season Re-Opens, Anglers Urged to Go Slow in Elkhorn Slough
Speeding boats could put threatened marine mammals in harm’s way. Anglers will be in a hurry to head out into Monterey Bay early on Saturday, April 6, when recreational salmon season re-opens. But with large numbers of sea otters continuing to reside in the Moss Landing area, particularly a group near the north jetty, [...]
Happy Birthday to Us!
Happy Birthday to us! Seaotters.com launched a year ago today, on the 23 year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Whether you’ve just found us or have been with us from day one, thank you for your support. For those of you who aren’t part of the seaotters.com community yet, we have a little message for [...]
The Southern Sea Otter: A ‘Threatened’ Species Now for 36 Years
California’s southern sea otter was officially listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act on January 14, 1977. 36 years later and counting, their conservation status remains unchanged and their future remains uncertain. Despite decades of protection, the southern sea otter population’s growth has stalled and the species shows few signs of recovery. Learn [...]
Get the Facts About the Diablo Canyon Sea Otter Research Project
Q&A provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. You can download the PDF here: http://www.fws.gov/ventura/species_information/so_sea_otter/docs/Questions and Answers about Diablo Canyon Sea Otter Research.pdf 1. Under what authority is the sea otter research being conducted? The U.S. Geological Survey and its research partners—the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the [...]
Threatened: The Controversial Struggle of the Southern Sea Otter
A Must-See Documentary! After being brought back from the brink of extinction, sea otters are once again in peril. An unprecedented number of sea otter deaths have occurred along the California coast in the last three years. But not everyone wants to support a thriving sea otter population. Otters are at the center of a [...]
Seaotters.com 2012 Year in Review
February 21 On Sea Otters, We Need to See the Big Picture (LATimes op-ed by Dr. James A. Estes) http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/21/opinion/la-oe-estes-otters-20120221 March 3 Toola, the first otter ever to serve as a surrogate mother for stranded pups and arguably the most important animal in the 28-year history of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research [...]
The ‘No-Otter Zone’ is No More
FWS Terminates Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program, Fulfills 2009 Legal Settlement with the Otter Project and Environmental Defense Center Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a final rule officially ending the ‘no-otter zone’ encompassing nearly all of the sea otter’s natural range in southern California. In 2009, the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) [...]
