Groups Applaud Release of Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan
"At long last, we have a blueprint for the recovery of otters. We are pleased to see the plan contains a more realistic threshold for determining when sea otters will be considered recovered, including requiring a higher population level of just under 3,100 animals," declared Jim Curland, Marine Program Associate, Defenders of Wildlife. "This magic number is what it would take to delist or remove the southern sea otter from the Endangered Species List."
The plan also includes a minimum threshold of approximately 8,400 otters as an "optimal sustainable population," in order to remove the southern sea otter’s designation as a depleted population under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Biologists estimate that this population would be equivalent to 50 to 80 percent of the current carrying capacity of sea otter habitat, based on estimated historic population levels.
The recovery plan identifies the two main threats to the southern sea otter as habitat degradation, which includes oil spills and the impacts from other environmental contaminants, and human impacts, which includes shooting, entanglement in fishing gear, and harassment.
It also contains the recommendation from the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Team to end the current zonal management and the translocation program. This approach essentially prohibits the natural expansion of otters south of Point Conception. The recommendation goes on to say that range expansion southward into the area now designated as a management zone (Point Conception south to the Mexican border) is essential for the recovery of the southern sea otter. This will be critical when, later this year, the Service completes their review to determine whether or not the otter management zone and translocation program is a failure.
"We are grateful that the Administration has taken this important step forward in sea otter conservation," said Curland. "We now look forward to working with the Service, Federal Marine Mammal Commission, California Department of Fish and Game, and with researchers and various stakeholders in implementing this plan."
Implementation will include, among many items, a continued push for research funding to gain a better understanding of the decline of the southern sea otter population in 6 out of the last seven years. A sound strategy will include a thorough examination of how sea otters are affected by disease, fisheries interactions, water quality, the health of the nearshore marine ecosystem, prey species declines, and other factors, Curland said.
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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 across the nation, 120,000 of which are in California. Defenders is dedicated to preserving wildlife and emphasizing appreciation and protection for all species in their ecological role within the natural environment. Defenders is actively involved in species protection and restoration efforts throughout the nation. Please visit www.defenders.org.
Contact(s):
Jim Curland, (831) 726-9010
