Good news because male otters, which are known for venturing hundreds of miles from their normal floating waters, may be seeking out new territory to move into once the “No-Otter” Zone is finally removed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December 2012.

But why is this bad news you may ask? Well, sea otters found in the “No-Otter” Zone, which is from Point Conception near Santa Barbara down to the U.S.-Mexico border, are not protected under the Endangered Species Act.

So, although we are excited about these sightings,  we are also fearful of what may happen to these brave adventurous males. As we know, some fisherman do not take kindly to otters moving into “their territory.”

Otters moving back into southern California waters will benefit the nearshore environment despite what many fisherman would have you believe. Yes, otters do eat a lot of shellfish, especially sea urchins who create wastelands where kelp once flourished, and will have some impact but they will also restore the natural balance to the ecosystem and bring many other benefits.

If you live in southern California, you should welcome the otters home and celebrate their return.

For over a decade, The Otter Project has been at the forefront of otter recovery efforts through our water quality, oil and habitat programs. None of our achievements would have been possible without the generous support of our members and people like you.

During the last 13 years we have achieved remarkable things.  We have been able to:

- Spearhead the introduction of Marine Protected Areas in California;

- Hold government agencies accountable for regulating commercial activities that effect water quality;

- Raise awareness of the importance of sea otters to the health of California’s near shore environment;

- Help increase Californian sea otter population numbers over the course of a decade;

and continue to:

- Work to bring and end to the “No-Otter” Zone in southern California;

- Address threats to otters such as oil spills from offshore drilling or vessel traffic and pollution from land based activites.

In 2012 achieving our goals won’t be any easier. Resources are scarce and sea otter numbers have significantly decreased according to the most recent surveys. Industry along the California coast continues to pollute the water ways and opposition to the natural range expansion of otters from commercial fishing interests has become increasingly vocal.

It is through the continued support of people such as yourself that The Otter Project can meet the ongoing challenges of sea otter recovery through effective advocacy and volunteer programs. Your generous donation will ensure that sea otters have a voice in California and continue to hold commercial and government organizations accountable for their actions.

HOW TO DONATE:

This year we are part of the Monterey County Gives program. All funds raised for The Otter Project are a matched donation – which means your contributions will go even further!

Please note that you must submit donations via check or credit card before the 30^th of December.

Online donations:

To pay with a credit card, visit the following link, scroll to the bottom left (we are under Environment and Sustainability), then complete the online form.   https://www.montereycountygives.com/Donate.aspx

Donations via mail:

• Print out the donation form for Monterey County Gives here: https://www.montereycountygives.com/Files/donation-form-web.pdf
• Complete the form making sure to check option 78 – The Otter Project
• Make out a check to Monterey County Weekly Community Fund
• Mail the completed form and check to: Monterey County Weekly Community Fund, 668 Williams Ave. Seaside, CA 93955

Thank you for supporting the recovery of California sea otters!

Steve Shimek, Founder and Executive Director

The workshop aimed to convene federal, state, and local agencies and organizations that are an official respondent organization, have a stake in oil spill response due to their investment and involvement in the health of the coastal ocean, and organizations that are likely to be contacted by the public during an oil spill event. The primary goal of the workshop was to increase understanding of the non-wildlife and wildlife volunteer plans and how local organizations in the Monterey Bay Area fit into the overall picture of oil spill response before, during, and after an event. A secondary goal was to seek input on what the needs are to improve local capacity in the Monterey Bay Area.

The workshop had 27 attendees and the overarching themes for the day long workshop focused on increased awareness, communication, participation, and integration of local organizations into oil spill event preparedness and response.

For more information about this workshop and the next steps, click on the link: http://www.otterproject.org/site/pp.asp?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=7887351

This is just another ploy by the sea urchin commission to try and delay the process and a final decision to terminate the program once again. The Commission was an “intervener” in our lawsuit and was well aware that the Service was required to have the Draft SEIS available by September 1, 2011 followed by the comment period.

The sea urchin industry was created in the absence of the urchins natural predator, sea otters. We do not want this industry to collapse and for fisherman to lose their jobs but they should realize that all businesses must adapt to change in order to survive and this is what they will have to do over the next decade or so. Otters were almost wiped out in the early 19th century, yet they adapted to the “changes” forced upon them and survived. The sea urchin community could learn a lot from otters.

The comment period will REOPEN this Friday, November 4th for 15 days. If you have not submitted comments of support for the Services’ proposal to END the Southern Sea Otter Translocation program. Please take the time to do so now! This will be the last opportunity to make sure your voice is heard.

Make sure to visit our resources page at freetheotters.org if you’re unclear about what to comment on or for ideas to help you compose your comments.

Here is how you can comment:

1. Go to the www.regulations.gov webpage to submit comments. Please note there is a 20 minute time limit for this page so we suggest writing your comments first. Fill in the required information form. Then, you can upload your document (pdf preferred) or you can copy and paste your comments in the comment box. For an example of what to include in your comment box, read our issues page.

2. When you are done, make sure you click Submit!

Let’s help the otters float on and reclaim their natural range!

The good news for sea otters and their supporters is that in a reversal of fortunes from the 1st Ventura meeting, supporters of preferred alternative 3c (which would end the “No-Otter” Zone) showed up in larger numbers than representatives from the commercial fishing industry.

In a fantastic turn of events, only 1 dissenting voice spoke from a small group representing the fishing community attended the Santa Cruz hearing, while comments in support of removing the “No-Otter” Zone were heard from more than 20 speakers.

One testimony in particular that moved the crowd in Santa Cruz included the story of a former commercial urchin fisherman who believes that otters have the right to food resources and if human competition for resources negatively impacts the existence of otters then it was time for him to find another way to make a living..

At the end of the 3 public hearings, support for pursuing preferred alternative 3c outnumbered opposition from the fishing community at 2 of the 3 meetings. While this is a fantastic result – the battle is far from over.

It is imperative that supporters of sea otters continue to voice their concerns about the zone before the Monday, Oct 24 deadline (12:00pm EST).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has made available to the public a fast and easy way to electronically send written comments on the proposed rule and associated environmental documents.

Make sure to visit our resources page if you’re unclear about what to comment on or for formatting ideas about composing your letter.

When you’re ready to submit, just follow these easy steps:

1. Go to the www.regulations.gov webpage to submit comments. Please note there is a 20 minute time limit for this page so we suggest writing your comments first. Fill in the required information form. Then, you can upload your document (pdf preferred) or you can copy and paste your comments in the comment box. For an example of what to include in your comment box, read our issues page.

2. When you are done, make sure you click Submit!

Remember – Monday, Oct 24, 12:00pm EST is the cutoff. You MUST get your comments into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before this date.

Approximately 30-40 people made it out to the meeting, with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) providing a platform for various members of the community to speak on the “No-Otter” Zone issue. As expected, members of the local commercial fishing community showed up to voice their opposition to the removal of the zone.

The Good News
Some passionate speakers made their way to the microphone to give their support to preferred alternative 3c, that would see the removal of the “No-Otter” Zone in California and instating protection for otters between Point Conception and the Mexico Border under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The Bad News
We need more support from concerned citizens at the public hearings! If the Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara meetings are to be successful in sending a strong message to the USFWS, we simply need more people to show up and make their voices heard.

How YOU can help
Going into the Santa Barbara hearing on October 4 and the Santa Cruz hearing on Oct 6, we need the following commitment from you:

1. Attend the public hearing and bring at least 2 supporters with you.
2. Speak in favor of preferred alternative 3c at the meeting. For those nervous about public speaking – have no fear – written comments can be submitted at the hearing and will be give the same weighting as the comments from those who choose to speak.

Visit our Get Involved page to see how you can help bring an end to the “No-Otter” Zone in California.

Add these dates to your calendar…
Tuesday, October 4th
Fleischman Auditorium
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta del Sol
Santa Barbara CA 93105

Thursday, October 6th
La Feliz Room
Seymour Marine Discovery Center Long Marine Lab
100 Shaffer Rd
Santa Cruz CA 95060

For the first time in more than two decades, inclement weather prevented researchers from collecting aerial observation data used to assess the vulnerability of the threatened California sea otter. The research team was able to conduct their normal shore-based observations. Both measurements are crucial for calculating the total count for sea otters, so without the aerial observation data a reliable is not possible for this year.

This is very unfortunate news and we are disappointed that USGS was unable to complete the 2011 census results as this is a huge setback to sea otter recovery efforts at a particularly distressing time for the species.

The data collected is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to calculate the 3–year running population average[2] to gauge the species’ population recovery progress and whether the California sea otter can be removed from the endangered species list.

So what does this mean for sea otters? This is the question yet to be answered.

USGS has stated that the partial data can still be helpful in tallying next year’s population. Next year’s population? What about this year’s population? How will this impact the 3-year running average this year and for years to come?

We just saw the highest number of recorded deaths of otters in 2010, two years of dramatic declines in the 3-year running average, and now a year with no population count. This is like a one, two, three punch to sea otter recovery.

The spring 2010 survey found 2719 otters, slightly up from the 2009 survey count of 2654 but down significantly from the 2007 count of 3026. The number of dead otters found in 2010 was an all time high of 304.  We are concerned about this gap in the population status because if the 2011 strandings (dead sea otters found) report results in another high number of dead otters counted, we could be looking at a serious setback for the sea otter population and recovery efforts, especially not having a complete and accurate count of this year’s population.

So, The Otter Project is very concerned about this news. We use this yearly data to assess how the sea otter population is doing and for our annual status report. We will have to wait and see how USGS interprets the data and how this may impact the 3-year running average.

For a summary of or to access our complete 2011 Sea Otter Status Report,  visit our website at www.otterproject.org.

In a 2010 settlement agreement, the FWS agreed to release the Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) before September 1, 2011 with their preferred decision.

The FWS is proposing to remove the regulations that govern southern sea otters and allow their range to naturally expand into southernCaliforniawaters. The program failed to achieve its intended purpose and FWS sea otter recovery and management goals cannot be achieved by continuing the program. Public comments are now being accepted on the proposed rule, associated Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and Revised Draft SEIS.

To learn more about this issue go to www.otterproject.org.

To learn how you can Take Action on the No Otter Zone and let your voice be heard , go to www.freetheotters.org . Also find us on Facebook for announcements about our Free The Otters campaign.

“We are ecstatic that the FWS is proposing to remove the regulations that govern the southern sea otter translocation program and allow sea otters to expand their home range back into southernCalifornia,” said Brad Hunt, Program Manager of the Otter Project.

“It is gratifying that the Service finally has concluded, after more than 24 years of failure, that the ‘no otter zone’ experiment should come to an end,” said Brian Segee, staff attorney at EDC.   “This is exactly what we hoped for when we filed the suit,” said Steve Shimek, Executive Director of The Otter Project.   “We have already heard reports of otter sightings in the Santa Barbara Channel, which we hope will become commonplace in the years ahead.”

In the late 1980s the US Fish and Wildlife Service moved otters from northern California to San Nicolas Island off southern California in an effort to safeguard the population from a catastrophic oil spill.  The Southern California petroleum industry, shellfish fishermen, and the Department of Defense objected to the move and as a result, all of southern California’s waters with the exception of San Nicolas Island was declared out-of-bounds to otters.  Stray otters were to be non-lethally trapped and moved north.  Many otters died as a result of the original move to San Nicholas and more died in the trapping efforts.

“Both the translocation and the no-otter zone have failed the sea otter,” said Steve Shimek, executive director of the Otter Project. “Of the 140 otters moved to San Nicolas, there are only about 50 around the Island today.  A handful of sea otters are living peacefully along the mainland Santa Barbara coast.  We can’t expect sea otters to recognize a pretend water boundary. It’s time to legalize these otters!”

The “Sea Otter” Revised Draft Supplemental Environment Impact Statement and the no-otter zone will be the subject of public hearings in early October. The Otter Project believes the no-otter zone is impractical and inhibits sea otter recovery.  “There are only 2700 sea otters where there were once around 12,000.  Ending the no-otter zone will be a major step forward towards a positive, long-term solution for the recovery of the sea otters,” said Shimek.  Sound science shows that otters must be able to spread their small numbers to avoid their near-extinction population from being wiped out by local pollution or oil spills.

Timeline:

On September 9, 2009 the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), on behalf of The Otter Project, filed suit to put an end the “no otter zone” and restoring protections to otters south of Point Conception.   [See Press Release at:  www.edcnet.org/news/PressReleases/09-09-30.pdf].   While both organizations were fully committed to following through on the case, both hoped that its filing will prompt the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to take action rather than fight in the courts.

On May 6, 2010, a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the case, finding that the FWS has a duty to evaluate the success of failure of its rule barring otters from southern Californiawaters. [See Press Release at:  www.edcnet.org/news/PressReleases/10-05-06.pdf].

On November 22, 2010, EDC and The Otter Project entered into a settlement agreement with the FWS requiring it to take certain actions required prior to terminating the failed “no otter zone” rule.  [See Press Release at:  www.edcnet.org/news/PressReleases/10-11-22.pdf].

Today:    FWS announced that it has completed the actions and made the findings required by the settlement [See Press Release at: http://www.fws.gov/cno/press/release.cfm?rid=253].  This enables the FWS to comply with the terms of the settlement which now require a public comment on the proposed rule, completion of a final Environmental Impact Statement and final failure determination by December 7, 2012.

Excerpt from the article:

“Dr. Williams worries that we’ve given up on the fight and wants to renew our passion to save our seas and the billions of lives that depend on it.

“You have want it more than oil, you have to want it more than fish on the table, and you just have to want it more. But if you do, you can have it. I know it’s out there,” Dr. Williams said.” (http://www.ivanhoe.com/science/story/2011/02/819a.html)

If you’d like to renew your passion and fight to save the sea otters, and choose to do so over your desire for oil, write to your congressperson and ask them to support the No New Drilling Act (HR 261): http://www.otterproject.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionCenter.aspx?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=33144