[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23460-23461]
[From the U.S. 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

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2009

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 7th 
Annual Sea Otter Awareness Week, September 28-October 3, 2009, 
sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife. This week-long 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 1700's, 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 1930's a 
small population, of less than 100 animals that had escaped the hunt, 
was discovered 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

[[Page 23461]]

Otter, and 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 three year population average, counted by the U.S. Geological 
Survey this year, totals only 2,813 animals, a decrease of half a 
percent and the first such decline in over a decade. These numbers are 
significantly less than what is necessary to consider the population 
decline in recent years is highly concerning. 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 reverse. 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 of the California Coast not 
only impacts the species itself, but it affects other marine 
populations and the surrounding ecosystem because Sea Otters are what 
scientists refer to as a keystone species. This means that they are 
integrally important to the ecosystem in which they live. The demise of 
sea otters allows their prey, sea urchins, to proliferate unchecked 
leading to the alarming overgrazing of kelp beds--one of the oceans 
nursery grounds for many marine animals. Research shows that the 
absence of sea otters has a direct link to the sharp decline of kelp 
along portions of California's coast. Further, 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 took the first step toward addressing these emerging 
concerns by signing into law California Assembly Bill 2485, 
establishing 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. Even during these trouble economic times, more 
than $220,000 has already been raised this year.
  However, this is a federally protected species and California cannot 
go it alone. In addition to continuing to work with my colleagues to 
secure Federal funds to support a continued and complete recovery of 
the population, I am proud that H.R. 556, The Southern Sea Otter 
Recovery and Research Act was passed by the House of Representatives 
this past July. This tremendous success was buoyed by the support and 
devotion of many people. We are one step closer to making the act into 
law and bringing needed resources to this threatened species.
  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 nonprofit 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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