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For Immediate Release
Reward Offered for Information Leading to the Arrest and Prosecution in Sea Otter Killings in the Monterey Bay Area
Monterey, Calif. - Defenders of Wildlife has
offered a total of $2,500 as a reward to the witness(es) who provide information
that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the person or people responsible for
the shooting of two sea otters in the Monterey Bay area on approximately May 7,
2005 and June 12, 2005.
"We are outraged by these senseless shootings.
These heinous crimes will simply not be tolerated," said Jim Curland, Marine
Program Associate for Defenders of Wildlife. “We hope the reward will be
instrumental in identifying the culprits involved and that appropriate legal
action will soon follow."
Previous rewards remain standing for those
responsible for the killing of a sea otter that was found in mid April of 2000
in Santa Barbara County, another sea otter found in September 2000 in Monterey
Bay, otters found shot in March and August of 2002 in Santa Barbara County, and
an additional otter found shot in June 2002 in San Luis Obispo
County.
The sea otter is protected under both the federal Endangered
Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act and has a "fully protected status"
under California state law. Currently, the California sea otter population is
estimated at slightly over 2,800 animals.
In the marine ecosystem, sea
otters are considered "keystone species," meaning that their presence or absence
has a significant impact on other marine species and marine ecosystems. Sea
otters help sustain vital kelp forests by feeding on the shellfish and other
plant-eating species that would otherwise consume kelp forests. Kelp forests, in
turn, serve as important nursery grounds for many types of fin
fishes.
Curland emphasized the importance of public involvement in
solving shooting incidents, stating, "We hope that anyone with information that
could lead to the apprehension of the individual or individuals involved will do
the right thing and contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”
If you
have any knowledge about the illegal killing of sea otters, you should contact
Special Agent Ed Newcomer of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. He can be
reached by phone at (310) 328-1516 x230 or by e-mail at ed_newcomer@fws.gov
Funding for the
Defenders of Wildlife's reward comes from their Imperiled Predator Reward Fund
established in 1998 to bring illegal predator killers to justice.
For
more information on California sea otters, please visit click here.
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading non-profit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With nearly 500,000 members and supporters nationwide – 120,000 of which are in California – Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. Please visit www.fws.gov
