Sea Otter Talk

Sea otter at sea. | Photo by Lilian Carswell

Oregon Shores board member Bob Bailey will discuss sea otters in Oregon, past and possibly future, in a talk at the next meeting of the MidCoast Watersheds Council on Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Newport Visual Arts Center (777 N.W. Beach Dr., Room 205).  The event is free and open to all.

In “Sea Otters on the Oregon Coast,” Bailey will explain how the presence of sea otters, extinct in Oregon since early in the 20^th century due to overhunting, can shape and sustain nearshore ecosystems.  His talk explores the current status of sea otters on the coast, and what role they play in a healthy coastal environment. He will share information about the history of sea otters in Oregon and on the Pacific Coast, their ecological and cultural importance, their disappearance, and the prospects for their return and recovery.

Bailey is board president of Elakha Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration and conservation of sea otters and the health of Oregon’s nearshore marine ecosystem.  Oregon Shores, with Bob Bailey as our representative, is a co-founder of the Elakha Alliance.  Bob, a native of Coos County, spent nearly 30 years as an ocean and coastal planner for Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development, retiring as manager of the Oregon Coastal Management Program.  In addition to serving on Oregon Shores’ board, he is currently president of the board of the Oregon Wave Energy Trust.

For more information, contact Evan Hayduk, (541) 265-9195, evan@midcoastwatershedscouncil.org.