[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMEMORATING SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK

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                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to Sea Otter 
Awareness Week, sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife. The support given 
by Defenders, Friends of the Sea Otter, the Otter Project, and the 
Ocean Conservancy to recover the Southern Sea Otter has raised public 
awareness and helped protect this important species under the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
  The study of southern sea otter populations provides much-needed 
information on ways to improve the health of coastal ecosystems. We 
already know sea otters play a critical role in maintaining healthy 
kelp beds along the California coast, an important habitat and nursery 
ground for some of the depleted West Coast rockfish stocks. Sea otter 
research has proven to be an effective method of monitoring toxins and 
diseases in the marine environment, both of which can affect the health 
of humans and other wildlife. These charismatic animals also bring 
significant tourism spending to central Californian coastal 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting to hold Sea Otter Awareness Week this week 
as Congress moves to reauthorize arguably the bedrock of environmental 
laws, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The dramatic turnaround 
realized by the once thought extinct southern sea otter is a result of 
two critical protection laws--the ESA and the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act, the southern sea otter population grew from less than 100 otters 
in the 1930's to the present total of 2,800. Scientists maintain that 
it will take 3,100 otters to make a population stable enough to even 
consider removing them from the Endangered Species list. Unfortunately, 
threats from disease, exposure to environmental pollutants, and 
entrapment in fisheries gear are threatening the species' continued 
recovery. As reauthorization of the ESA moves forward this week in the 
House, I will fight to keep it strong enough to successfully overcome 
these threats to the Southern Sea Otter.
  Many constituents in my District have an interest in, and are 
affected by, sea otter management. I introduced H.R. 2323, the Southern 
Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act, and work with my colleagues to 
secure funding in an effort to support the recovery of the population. 
The nonprofit environmental groups work with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 
researchers, fishermen, and state and Federal agencies to recover the 
Southern Sea Otter, obtain increased research funds, and remove threats 
to this keystone species.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the many accomplishments of the non-profit 
environmental organizations and other agencies and people who devote a 
tremendous effort to protect and recover the Southern Sea Otter. This 
week I join the people of my and other districts honoring Sea Otters 
and those people working to save them and restore their populations.

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