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Sea otter survival
SEA OTTER SURVIVAL California sea otters are often considered one of the great successes of conservation, but they still face significant threats Words Adam Millward With the species almost wiped out, a multi-national treaty – one of the first global conservation initiatives of its kind – was signed by the US, the UK, Japan and Russia in 1911, banning fur seal hunting. It undoubtedly helped pull this animal back from the brink. An ongoing commitment to their protection was repledged in the US by listing sea otters in the Endangered Species Act (1973) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972). The latter makes it illegal to harass or capture any marine mammal in US waters without a permit. Prospects are particularly troubling for the southern sea otter subspecies – native to the waters off California – of which there are thought to be only 3,000 or so left in the wild. Equally important as population size is re-establishing former territory, and both seem to have stalled in recent years; southern sea otters only occupy around a quarter of their past range. A greater distribution ensures
a healthier gene pool and also reduces the impact of population-decimating disasters such as oil spills. For decades, a dedicated band of conservationists, charities, academics and institutions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium have been leading the charge to reverse the fortunes of sea otters. As well as trying to gain a better understanding of the bigger ecological picture, this has also involved more direct approaches such as breeding programmes, rescue and rewilding of injured animals, in conjunction with legislative and social campaigns to tighten up harmful fishing practices and to reduce contamination entering the sea otter’s habitat. While sea otters have come a long way since near extinction in the early 20th century, now is no time to rest on our laurels, as these much-loved marine mammals are far from out of the woods yet.
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When it comes to wildlife conservation, sometimes the numbers can bely the reality. At a cursory glance of past and present population figures, you might assume that sea otters have staged a remarkable comeback, even if they’re still a long way short of the estimated 300,000 peak of their glory days. To some extent, that’s true, but it doesn’t reflect the full story. While certain threats have waned, others have risen in prominence, and there’s no doubt that these animals’ long-term future remains in jeopardy. Well-equipped for a marine lifestyle, these mustelids have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, enabling them to endure the chilly seas off the western US, Canada and Russia. Unfortunately, it was this life-saving coat that almost drove them to extinction, with demand for luxury fur clothing and accessories resulting in tens of thousands being killed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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