California Sea Otters

The California, or southern, sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is the only sea otter subspecies currently listed as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The California sea otter is also a “fully protected mammal” by California state law and by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In the 1700’s, the sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their fur. In the late 1930’s, a small population of otters (estimated at approximately 300) was discovered along California’s Big Sur coast. The California population is estimated at a mere 2,000 as of Fall 2001.

Historically, there were between 16,000 to 20,000 sea otters along the coast of California

Sea otters are classified as both an umbrella species, and a keystone species. As an umbrella species, the protections made for the sea otter will essentially affect a large number of other species in their ecosystem. A keystone species is a term used to refer to the sea otters functional role within their ecosystem. The feeding habits of the sea otters have a crucial effect on their ecol

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One of the main staples of the sea otter’s diet is shellfish. From 1987-1990, otters were captured from their home range and moved to San Nicholas Island, one of the Channel Islands 60 miles off the coast. 5% of the otters examined no clear cause of death could be concluded. The project was stopped when it was determined that the sea otters were not remaining and thriving in the new area. Urchin barrens are areas that nearly barren of kelp because of the urchins and abalone.

From 1992 to 1995 the National Wildlife Heath Center had examined approximately 50 sea otter carcasses per year as part of a 5-year necropsy study. The otters control the number of shellfish, which feed on the kelp. The sea otters can be referred to as indicators of the health of their ecosystem. Since stopping the project in 1990, fewer than 25 of the 140 translocated sea otters remain at San Nicholas Island.

In 1986, Congress passed a law allowing sea otters to be “translocated” to another area of the California coast. From a total of 195 carcasses that had been studied at the time of the report, 38. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is presently finalizing a new plan to aid in saving the sea otter.

Many causes have been recognized as contributing to the population decline: shark attacks, gunshot wounds, mating activities, fishing/net line injuries, habitat degradation, lack of an adequate food supply, land and water pollution, and disease. The urchin and abalone eat the kelp forests and transform them into urchin barrens.

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