Sea Otter Restoration Talk

Sea otters.\Photo by Fritz Wilhelm.

The Elakha Alliance will be making a presentation on the restoration of sea otters along the Oregon coast at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Yachats Commons (441 Hwy 101 N. in Yachats)

Sponsored by Yachats View the Future, the speaker will be Peter Hatch, secretary/board member of the Elakha Alliance and member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Hatch works in the tribe’s cultural resources office. He’s been fishing, clamming and crabbing in Lincoln County his entire life and wants to ensure that his descendants can always do the same.

The Elakha Alliance vision is for an Oregon coast 50 years from now “where our children and grandchildren co-exist along with a thriving sea otter population and a robust and resilient marine ecosystem. Oregon Shores has supported the Elakha Alliance since its conception and continues to advocate for their work to return Oregon's coastal ecosystems to their historic balanced state. 

Topics covered during Saturday’s free presentation will be:

• Cultural and historical significance of the sea otter to the people and waters of the Oregon coast. What would reintroducing sea otters mean from that standpoint?
• Ecological significance of the sea otter and what reintroducing them to the Oregon coast would mean.
• Where did the sea otters go?
• How and when did the Elakha Alliance form? Why sea otters, and why now?
• What is a trophic cascade? Have we seen what happens when sea otters are removed from a habitat? Do they really have that much of an impact?
• Successes and failures of reintroducing sea otters and its impact on areas of the West Coast.
• Concerns people have with reintroducing this marine mammal.
• Timetable for sea otter reintroduction on the southern Oregon coast and what will it take to achieve the alliance’s vision.

Refreshments and cookies will be provided by Yachats Ladies Club and View the Future a local 501c(3), all-volunteer organization whose mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the natural environment, promoting collaborative actions for scientific, educational, recreational, cultural and economic goals for the benefit of the Yachats community and its future generations.

This event is free and open to all, no registration is required.