Provide leadership for the conservation of all otter species (Lutrinae). As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. After the years of the Great Hunt, the population in these areas, currently part of Russia, was only 750. In cooperation with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), SeaWorld breeds Asian small-clawed otters as part of AZA's Species Survival Plan (SSP). Gwaii Haanas lies about 100 kilometres off the northern British Columbia coast. It seeks to stop the extinction of wild animals and plants in the United States, other nations, and at sea. © 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. [19], The March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill devastated the sea otter population in Prince William Sound. Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to designate critical habitat for the species, as required by the Endangered Species Act. [37], Although the bodies of dead sea otters often sink at sea, necropsies of beached carcasses provide some insights into the causes of mortality. [14] By the mid-1960s, Amchitka Island was being used a site for nuclear testing, which eventually killed many sea otters in the area. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, "Final Washington State Sea Otter Recovery Plan", "National Marine Sanctuary Frequently Asked Questions", Ecoscenario: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, City of Monterey | Harbor | Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary History, Population dynamics and present status of sea otters (, "Aleutian Sea Otter population falls 70% in eight years", "Lacking a decent meal, killer whales reach for the popcorn", "Sea Otters – Southwest Alaska Sea Otter Recovery Team (SWAKSORT)", "Lawsuit Seeks to Sheild (sic) Alaska Sea Otter", "British Columbia: Sea Otter Research Expedition", "Aquatic Species at Risk - Species Profile - Sea Otter", "California otters rebound, but remain at risk", "Sea otter shooting in Moss Landing investigated by feds", National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, "What's Killing California's Sea Otters? [19], Some Alaska orcas specialize in preying on marine mammals and others on fish. In advance of a major test in 1968, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission agreed to move hundreds of the animals to other parts of the coast. The conservation status of this ancient species has been a concern in the UK since they became close to extinction here after dramatic population declines from the mid 1950’s to the 1980’s. Sea Otter Viewing Tips Here are some viewing tips to help you enjoy watching sea otters and other marine wildlife in … Estimates vary from 2,000 to 6,000 sea otters. For the last 40 years, southern sea otters have been listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act with the population estimated at just a few thousand. Figure 5. Washington, now only stretches from Southern California to just north of Half Moon Bay,California. [29] In April 2007, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada changed its assessment of the sea otter from "threatened" to "special concern". Modern efforts in sea otter conservation began in the early 20th century, when the sea otter was nearly extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting. The otter was nursing twin pups at the time of the incident. North American river otters (L. canadensis) are still taken as part of the commercial fur trade, but the primary threats to others are the destruction of wetland habitats and pollution. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal living near the shores of the North Pacific, from northern Japan, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka east across the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast to Mexico. At the request of the U.S. It has only recently begun to reappear in Mexico and northern Japan. The IUCN describes the significant threats to sea otters as oil pollution, predation by orcas, poaching, and conflicts with fisheries. The MMPA, with certain limited exemptions, makes it illegal to hunt, harm, or harass any marine mammal in U.S. waters. ... Their conservation in Singapore is an international success and a national pride. No single threat is solely responsible for the sea otter’s slow recovery from near-extinction during the fur trade. [26], Between 1969 and 1972, 89 sea otters were flown or shipped from Alaska to the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The sea otter was once abundant in a wide arc across the North Pacific ocean, from northern Japan to Alaska to Mexico. Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length. Otter - Otter - Conservation and classification: Nearly all species of otters face increasing threat as urbanization and logging continue. It has a genetic lineage that is all its own and this information is both interesting and informative for phylogenetic research and assignment. In the 1980s, the area was home to an estimated 55,000 to 100,000 sea otters, but the population fell to around 6,000 animals by 2000. Sea otters can drown if entangled in fishing gear. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. While population numbers of the northern sea otter located in this region have still declined, the population hasn't been affected nearly as drastically as southern sea otters. Otters are a charismatic species that can be used to drive conservation initiatives and inspire people. By 1911, hunting for the animal's luxurious fur had reduced the sea otter population to fewer than 2000 individuals in the most remote and inaccessible parts of its range. It is absent from about a third of its former range, including all of Oregon and northern California. Otter Conservation Index. As the birth rate in California is comparable to rates in other, rapidly growing sea otter populations, the decline is attributed to high rates of mortality. [28], In 1989, a separate colony was discovered in the central B.C. Because of the species' reputation for depleting shellfish resources, advocates for commercial, recreational, and subsistence shellfish harvesting have often opposed allowing the sea otter's range to increase, and there have even been instances of fishermen and others illegally killing them.[2]. Friends of the Sea Otter is committed to and advocates for the conservation of sea otters and the preservation of their habitat through education, research, and policy decisions that will ensure the long-term survival of this species. This publication assesses the issues influencing prospects for continued conservation and recovery of the sea otter populations and provides insight into how to handle future global changes. Fish and Wildlife Service received a tip that a man docking his boat in Moss Landing, California, shot at a mother sea otter with a pellet gun. Scientists removed the oil from the otters' fur with dishwashing detergent. In the Aleutian Islands, a massive and unexpected disappearance of sea otters has occurred in recent decades.[when?] Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. [35], In December 2014, the U.S. The assigned prioritization of each measure may change with time as new information emerges. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation program is renowned for its success at rescuing orphan pups and releasing them back into the wild.Just last week, Monterey celebrated the news that two female sea otters raised as stranded pups by surrogate mothers at the aquarium have each given birth in the wild to their second set of pups. Hunting nearly wiped out the entire population by the early 1900s. A survey taken in the spring of 2007 counted a little over 3,000 sea otters in California, up slightly from previous years but down from an estimated pre-fur trade population of 16,000. Taken with tigers? The otter Lutra lutra is a semi-aquatic mammal, which occurs in a wide range of ecological conditions, including inland freshwater and coastal areas (particularly in Scotland). [31] With conservation efforts, including the crucial pioneering of Monterey marine protected area by Julia Platt and Margaret Wentworth Owings and the Friends of the Sea Otter organization, this group has since grown and expanded its range. Conservation Status . The fact that sea otters uphold the health and balance in kelp forests has generated support for conservation efforts, but the reintroduction of the invertebrate predators has also caused some friction with fishermen and coastal communities dependent on the species sea otters eat. [32] Unusually high mortality rates amongst adult and young adult otters, particularly females, have been reported. SeaWorld parks rescue and rehabilitate orphaned, ill, and injured otters. Go behind-the-scenes to see how our trainers care for and interact with these amazing animals, and get up close with some finned, flippered, or feathered friends. Sea otters are a social species—females and their pups are often observed spending time together in one group and males in another. Today, the return of this keystone species is a living reminder of what restoration, conservation and compassion for non-human species can achieve. In August 2005, the "southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment" of the sea otter was listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. [8] The state has listed the sea otter as an endangered species since 1981. “It would change the game in terms of how we look at sea otter conservation… The UK Wild Otter Trust is dedicated to promoting a positive understanding of the Otter & Otter conservation in all areas, raise the awareness through education, involvement & … Description and ecological characteristics. We should care about the sea otter because it has intrinsic … Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. Sea Otters are also known as “indicators,” this title means that the species' health and condition can help to show how healthy the ecosystems are doing (Shimek, Cauldwell 1998). The final chapter summarises the actions that need to be taken to conserve all species of otters worldwide for the long-term future. Find a variety of free classroom activities that will keep your students engaged and excited to learn about animals. With up to one million hairs per square inch of skin, this species has the densest fur of any mammal . [30], 59 sea otters were translocated from Amchitka Island to Washington in 1969 and 1970, with annual surveys between 2000 and 2004 recording between 504 and 743 individuals. Modern efforts in sea otter conservation began in the early 20th century, when the sea otter was nearly extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting. In two important parts of its range, however, sea otter populations have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. For the last 40 years, southern sea otters have been listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act with the population estimated at just a few thousand. [38] The parasite, which is often fatal to sea otters, is carried by wild and domestic cats. Since then, sea otter numbers have increased. It is not known if this colony, which had a size of about 300 animals in 2004, was founded by translocated otters or by survivors of the fur trade. These introduction efforts have met with some success. The Congo clawless, neotropical, and hairy-nosed otters are listed as "data deficient" (not enough data are available to determine the species' risk of extinction). Beginning in the 1960s, efforts to translocate sea otters to previously populated areas were also successful in restoring sea otters to other parts of the west coast of North America. Are you wild about whales? Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), some rescued California sea otters are being monitored in long-term studies in zoological parks such as SeaWorld San Diego. All other otter species and subspecies are listed on Appendix II, in which the species is identified as threatened. Departments of Interior and Commerce. This organization links together government agencies, non-government agencies, and independent states to encourage a worldwide approach to conservation. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is one of the world's leading otter charities. Sea otters give live birth. The unique opportunity to observe and learn directly from live animals increases public awareness and appreciation of wildlife. More and more, however, the issues associated with sea otter conservation have merged into broader environmental concerns, such as ecosystem-wide changes in food sources and issues including climate change, ocean noise and coastal pollution. In most of its range, it is a keystone species, with a stabilizing effect on its local ecosystem that is disproportionate to its size and abundance. A sanctuary was created in Amchitka Island, whose sea otter population grew to outstrip its supply of prey. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is administered by the U.S. When their fur is soaked with oil, it loses its ability to retain air, and the animal quickly dies from hypothermia. Conservation programmes are far more effective when organised by local people but in Asia there are very few scientists working on otters and their habitats. A study of 105 sea otters that had washed ashore between 1998 and 2001 determined the major causes of death to be protozoal encephalitis, acanthocephalan parasite infection, shark attack, and cardiac disease. 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