Southern Sea Otter Management and Policy

The southern, or California, sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), has faced a variety of threats and impacts over the nearly seven decades since it was re-discovered off the Big Sur coast.

Sea otter management and policy in California has revolved around four major efforts:

  • Development of a Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter
  • State and Federal legislation Affecting Southern Sea Otters
  • Regulatory Change
  • Creation of a Sea Otter Translocation Program and Management Zone

Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter

Southern sea otters are listed a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). After more than 20 years of effort, a recovery plan for southern sea otters was released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in April of 2003. The recovery plan outlines a series of guidelines and recommendations designed to facilitate the recovery of southern sea otters in hopes of eventually achieving sufficient recovery so that the species may be removed from the endangered species list.

Read the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan

State and Federal Legislation Affecting Southern Sea Otters

Southern sea otters have benefited by having champions both in the U.S. Congress and the California state legislature.

Federal Legislation in Progress

U.S. Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced legislation in 2003 that would have authorized $5 million/year for five years for funding of key research needs pertaining to California sea otter health and recovery. In 2007 the bill will be revamped and re-introduced. Keep checking this site for more information. Defenders of Wildlife is working closely with Congressman Farr and his staff to modify the bill to best fit the current needs for sea otter recovery.

2006 California Sea Otter Law

Defenders of Wildlife led the way in 2006 in passing this landmark legislation and will continue to be the lead organization to ensure that the various goals of this bill to help sea otter recovery will be implemented.

The bill, AB 2485, was co-authored by Assemblyman Dave Jones (Sacramento) and Assemblyman John Laird (Santa Cruz). This law is a critical step to save our sea otters and safeguard California’s coastal ecosystems by increasing protections for sea otters and providing direct funding towards sea otter research, conservation and recovery programs.

AB 2485 provides additional protections for sea otters by:

  • Establishing the California Sea Otter Fund tax check-off on California state income tax forms which supports researchers who are working to understand the impacts facing the threatened sea otter and to find ways to recover their population in California.
  • Requiring labeling of cat litter packaging (law went into effect January 1, 2007) to discourage the flushing of cat litter, potentially reducing a key source of a deadly parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, in waste water
  • Establishing a fund, through 50% of the tax check-off funds, for the California Department of Fish and Game to access so that all game wardens can work on sea otter issues
  • Increasing fines and penalties for the harming of sea otters up to $25,000

Regulatory Changes Helping Sea Otters

On occasion, regulatory changes are needed to assist in sea otter recovery. Defenders of Wildlife works to ensure that regulatory changes are made that will benefit sea otter recovery.

Land-based impacts on water quality critically affect sea otter health. Defenders of Wildlife and other groups strongly advocate for changes that improve water quality for sea otters.

Our efforts include:

Fishing gear regulations also can impact sea otters so Defenders of Wildlife and other groups have been involved in efforts to affect regulatory changes on the Central Coast Set Gillnet Fishery and other fisheries that conflict with sea otters.

Creation of a Sea Otter Translocation Program and Management Zone

Between 1987 and 1990, 140 sea otters were moved to a translocation zone off San Nicolas Island, approximately 60 miles off the Los Angeles coast, to create an experimental colony. The translocation program was initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The conservation and scientific research communities believe the translocation program and the no-otter management zone have not been a success and have, in fact, run counter to the goal of southern sea otter recovery. Defenders of Wildlife and other groups testified at hearings and has provided extensive written comments.
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