Author Archives: Brad
Otters Win! Seismic testing near Diablo Canyon defeated.
Late yesterday (11/14) the California Coastal Commission denied PG&E’s application to conduct high-energy seismic testing within Estero Bay and in the heart of the sea otter’s range. PG&E said the testing was needed to assess the potential magnitude of an … Continue reading
Posted in California
Tagged diablo canyon, nuclear power plant, sea otters, Seismic testing
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What role do sea otters play in combatting Climate Change?
Yes, you read that right. Climate Change. Last week, I read about a new study by two UC Santa Cruz researchers that suggests that sea otters undoubtedly influence the carbon cycle, CO2 storage, by limiting sea urchin populations which allows … Continue reading
Good news! Annual Sea Otter Count for 2012 is up
Monterey, CA –The U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center (USGS-WERC) released their annual sea otter survey count for 2012 this week and the news is good. The results were presented with cautious optimism since “the southern sea otter population … Continue reading
Central Coast Monitoring Program the Most Successful in the State
MONTEREY, CA – On July 4th, 2012, a milestone of 2000 surveys monitoring California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) was reached by volunteers with The Otter Project’s Central Coast MPA Watch program. Starting in March 2011, MPA Watch was launched in … Continue reading
Posted in California, Marine Protected Areas, MPA Watch, Volunteer
Tagged MPA, MPA Watch, volunteers
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CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO END THE ‘NO-OTTER’ ZONE
June 15, 2012 California Coastal Commission finds that proposed termination of southern sea otter translocation program is consistent with California Coastal Act Huntington Beach, CA—By unanimous vote, the California Coastal Commission yesterday confirmed … Continue reading
World Oceans Day – Celebrating our Underwater State Parks
It’s easy to forget that meaningful change often happens in increments. Sometimes years go by until it becomes apparent that a fundamental change has occurred. On the eve of World Oceans Day, The Otter Project would like to recognize one … Continue reading
Fisheries exemptions included in 2013 House National Defense Authorization Act
On May 17th, Rep. Gallegly made a floor statement for his amendment, formerly House Bill HR 4043, to the 2013 House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to establish “Military Readiness Areas” and provide unprecedented protections for all commercial fishery interests … Continue reading
The Otter Project took on Big-Ag, and guess what…We Won!
By Steve Shimek After three years of delays, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board passed first-of-its-kind regulation of agricultural pollution. The Otter Project led a broad coalition of conservation, environmental justice and water policy groups to the huge … Continue reading
Otters remain in harm’s way of H.R. 4043 – Bill hearing before Full Natural Resource Committee
Last week, southern sea otter conservation dodged a bullet as House Bill H.R. 4043 was not included as an amendment to H.R. 4310 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 in the Armed Services Committee Hearing. This is … Continue reading
House Subcommittee Hearing on H.R. 4043 hits the Target
House Bill H.R. 4043 had its day before the House Natural Resource Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs on April 19th. The witnesses before the committee to provide testimony were: Donald Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy … Continue reading
Sea Otter Scoop 