Talk on Sea Otter Reintroduction

Sea otter raft.\Photo by David Sidle.

As part of the ongoing Research Seminars series, the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) will host Michele Zwartjes of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the possibility of restoring sea otters to northern California and Oregon. This presentation will occur on Thursday, April 6, at 3:30 p.m.

About the talk: 

"Sea otters are popular attractions at our Oregon Coast Aquarium and Oregon Zoo, and many people assume they just have not been fortunate enough to see one here in the wild.  But in fact sea otters have been absent from Oregon’s coast since the early 1900s, having been hunted nearly to extinction in the course of the maritime fur trade.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently exploring the possibility of restoring sea otters to the coasts of northern California and Oregon. Sea otters are widely recognized as a “keystone” species, a species that has a dramatically large impact on the ecosystem relative to its abundance. The presence of sea otters is associated with increased biodiversity and the enhancement of kelp and seagrass systems.  In a recent feasibility assessment mandated by Congress, the Service concluded that the restoration of sea otters would have significant benefits for both the species and the ecosystem, but some ocean users are wary of what their return could mean for coastal economies and their way of life.

In this talk I will review the history of sea otter populations and past reintroduction attempts, the results and recommendations of the Service’s feasibility assessment, and anticipated next steps as consideration of a potential reintroduction continues."

These talks are delivered in a hybrid fashion. The event is free, and all are welcome to attend in person in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building auditorium at the HMSC (2030 S.E. Marine Science Dr). You can also attend online. Register here to attend remotely via Zoom.