The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially declared that southern sea otters will continue to receive protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This decision comes after an extensive evaluation of the species’ status, which included input from experts in the field. The Service has issued a not-warranted 12-month finding on a petition to remove ESA safeguards for the southern sea otter.
Southern sea otters, once on the brink of extinction, have shown signs of recovery in recent years. However, they continue to face significant threats, including climate change, shark-bite mortality, and habitat limitations.
Steve Henry, the field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Ventura, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by these iconic marine mammals, stating, “While southern sea otters have made strides toward recovery after coming back from the brink of extinction in our recent history, they continue to face significant threats from climate change, shark-bite mortality, and limited range.”
Climate change poses a multifaceted threat to southern sea otters. It is expected to increase their exposure to harmful pathogens and algal blooms, heighten susceptibility to white shark bites due to changes in kelp canopy cover and favorable conditions for subadult white sharks, and reduce prey availability through ocean acidification. These impacts are currently influencing the species and are projected to intensify in the future.
The decision to retain ESA protections for southern sea otters followed a petition received in 2021, which prompted a comprehensive review of their status. The Service examined the best available scientific data to evaluate the species’ situation, culminating in a species status assessment. This assessment, along with the 12-month finding, provides crucial information to guide conservation efforts for southern sea otters.
In 2021, as directed by Congress, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessed the feasibility of reintroducing sea otters to parts of the west coast in Northern California and Oregon where they once thrived. While the assessment determined that reintroduction is biologically feasible and could have significant benefits for sea otters and marine ecosystems, further information about its potential impact on stakeholders and local communities is required before any reintroduction plans can proceed. Currently, there is no active proposal for the reintroduction of sea otters.
The 12-month finding regarding the petition to delist southern sea otters under the Endangered Species Act, along with supporting information, will be published in the Federal Register under Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2023-0132 on September 20, 2023.
To see the original press release announcement, please CLICK HERE!
About Southern Sea Otters
Southern sea otters, a subspecies of sea otters, presently inhabit only about 13 percent of their historical range. Historically, they ranged from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico. Their near-extinction during the fur trade of the 1700s and 1800s led to their protection under the ESA, Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and California state law.
Since receiving federal protections in the 1970s, the southern sea otter population has experienced slow growth and hovers around 3,000 individuals in recent years. These creatures play a pivotal role in the ecological health of nearshore ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and contributing to carbon sequestration by kelp and seagrass. Their presence also increases the ecosystem’s resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Unlike whales and seals, sea otters lack blubber. Instead, they rely on their dense fur coat and elevated metabolism to stay warm. The average adult sea otter must eat 20 to 30 percent of its body mass in food each day just to meet its energy requirements. Sea otters need to conserve energy, which means that uninterrupted rest is an important part their well-being.
To minimize the potential for disturbance and harm to sea otters, people sharing sea otter habitat should:
- Be aware of your surroundings and alert to nearby wildlife when recreating.
- Maintain a safe distance—if a sea otter notices you, you are likely too close and should back away. Keep kayaks at least 60 feet (or five kayak lengths) away, passing by parallel rather than pointing directly at any animals and moving slowly but steadily past rather than stopping.
- Keep pets on a leash on and around docks and harbors and never allow interactions, even if the animals appear to be playing.
- Never feed sea otters, as they can become aggressive, which could result in their removal from the population and placement in an animal care facility
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media