[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18541]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SEA OTTER AWARENESS WEEK 2008

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize Sea 
Otter Awareness Week 2008.
  Established in 2003 by the national nonprofit organization Defenders 
of Wildlife, Sea Otter Awareness Week is an annual event that aims to 
teach the public about the vital role that sea otters play in our 
marine ecosystem. Acknowledged each year by numerous nonprofit 
organizations, educational institutions, and local, State, and Federal 
elected officials, Sea Otter Awareness Week helps to protect this 
sentinel species and its habitat.
  Historically, sea otters once numbered in the hundreds of thousands 
and thrived along the 6,000 miles of Pacific coastline from northern 
Japan, through the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, down the coast of 
California, and into Baja California in Mexico. Sadly, because of their 
thick fur, sea otters were hunted to the point of near extinction 
throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Thanks to an international ban 
on hunting, conservation efforts, and reintroduction programs, the sea 
otter population is on its way to recovery, though it has been a slow 
process.
  The health and well-being of our sea otter population is indicative 
of the overall health and well-being of the Pacific Coast marine 
ecosystems as a whole. We must do all we can to protect our coastal 
ecosystem and foster the survival of sentinel species such as the sea 
otter. To ensure a healthy coast and ocean, I am proud to have 
reintroduced my National Oceans Protection Act, which provides a 
comprehensive approach to ocean management and protection, ensuring 
that Americans can enjoy the beauty and majesty of our oceans for 
generations to come.
  I commend Defenders of Wildlife and all those involved in Sea Otter 
Awareness Week for their dedication to raising awareness about the 
tremendously important role that sea otters have in our coastal 
ecosystem. I am inspired by their work and I applaud them for their 
perseverance in protecting the health of our oceans and marine life. 
Their commitment means a brighter future for us all.

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