[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1860]
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

                       Monday, September 22, 2008

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 6th 
Annual Sea Otter Awareness Week, September 22-28, 2008, sponsored by 
Defenders of Wildlife. This weeklong event provides the opportunity to 
educate the broader public about sea otters, their natural history, the 
integral role that sea otters play in the near-shore marine ecosystem, 
and the conservation issues they are facing.
  In the early 1700s, before wide-scale hunting began, sea otters 
ranged across the North Pacific rim from Japan to Baja, California. The 
worldwide population estimates for that time range from the hundreds of 
thousands to possibly a million or more. Before the hunting began, 
there were approximately 16,000-20,000 along California's coast. 
Killing these animals for their fur brought down their numbers until 
they were thought to be extinct off California by the early 1900s.
  But they were not driven completely to extinction. In the 1930s a 
small population, less than 100, was discovered that had escaped the 
hunt in a remote cove on a coastal ranch in Big Sur on the central 
coast of California. Since that time, groups such as Defenders of 
Wildlife, Friends of the Sea Otter, and The Ocean Conservancy have 
raised public awareness and helped protect this important species under 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
  The presence of the California sea otter has become an icon of the 
State's coastal environment and culture, and these charismatic animals 
bring significant tourism revenue to Californian coastal communities. 
The spring census conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey this year 
counted 2,760 animals, down 8.8 percent from last year, and their range 
extends along the central coast from Half Moon Bay to Pt. Conception.
  These numbers are significantly less than what is necessary to 
consider the population stable and their population growth in recent 
years is slower than their cousins in Alaska. Researchers are beginning 
to identify indirect hazards for sea otters such as non-point source 
pollution, pathogens, and entrapment in fisheries' gear that are 
causing their population growth to slow. Such realizations support the 
need for continued research and preventive measures to respond to these 
issues, while continuing to ward against the direct killings/takings 
that still occur.
  The decline of southern sea otters off the California coast not only 
impacts the species itself, but it affects other marine populations and 
the surrounding ecosystem. They are what scientists refer to as a 
keystone species. This means that they are integrally important to the 
ecosystem in which they live. For example, the demise of sea otters 
allows their prey, sea urchins, to proliferate unchecked, which leads 
to the alarming overgrazing of kelp beds--one of the ocean's nursery 
grounds for many marine animals. In particular, research shows that the 
absence of sea otters has a direct link to the sharp decline of kelp 
along portions of California's coast.
  The sea otter is also what scientists refer to as a sentinel or an 
indicator species. In this way, the sea otters are the canaries in the 
coal mine for our coastal health. The sea otters are all too effective 
at monitoring toxins and diseases in the marine environment, which can 
affect the health of humans and other wildlife.
  California has taken the first step toward addressing these emerging 
concerns by signing into law California Assembly Bill 2485, which 
establishes a State fund for sea otter conservation. Again this year 
Californians had the option of donating a portion of their tax returns 
to sea otter conservation. I want to emphasize that this means that 
Californians voluntarily pay a little more on their tax return to help 
protect these animals. To date, this has raised almost $270,000.
  However, this is a federally protected species and California cannot 
go it alone. In addition to working with my colleagues to secure 
Federal funds to support a continued and complete recovery of the 
population, I introduced H.R. 3639, the southern sea otter Recovery and 
Research Act. Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, 
Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing about the southern sea otter and 
the management of these populations.
  Dr. James Estes from the University of California, Santa Cruz; Andrew 
Johnson, from the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and Jim Curland from Defenders 
of Wildlife testified on the state of the sea otter populations. I and 
my colleagues have sought their knowledge and expertise, along with 
other Federal, State, and local experts and citizens to provide for 
research and recovery programs for the southern sea otter.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the many accomplishments of Defenders of 
Wildlife, who carry out the important mission to preserve our Nation's 
wildlife and habitat. I also applaud the other non-profit environmental 
organizations, working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, researchers, 
fishermen, State and Federal agencies, schools, and many other 
institutions and individuals, who devote tremendous effort to protect 
and recover the southern California sea otter. Sea Otter Awareness Week 
is just one of their many activities geared towards honoring and saving 
this species, and I am proud to be associated with this vital work.

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