Great white sharks partly to blame for otter recovery stall

[alp227]

The population of California sea otters, a species whose painfully slow recovery from near extinction has been as baffling as it has been disturbing, is nearly the same as it was last year despite intensive efforts to bring the frolicsome marine mammals back from the brink.

The U.S. Geological Survey counted 2,944 otters and pups along the California coast this year, about the same as the 2,939 that were seen last year. Most scientists agree that the number of animals, which are also known as southern sea otters, should be increasing, but hungry predators and a lack of food may be limiting their growth.

“The recovery of the California sea otter has stalled,” said Steve Shimek, executive director of the Otter Project, one of California’s sea otter recovery programs. “This is bad news. ... We must redouble our efforts.”

The beloved otter, whose luscious coat was so coveted by fur traders that the species was nearly wiped out, has pretty much been holding steady in its West Coast sanctum for about a decade despite intensive efforts to increase the population. One problem, marine biologists say, is an alarming uptick in shark attacks.

full: http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-sea-otter-population-declines-5772806.php

[msongs]

1. restore the kelp beds off of so cal beaches would help a lot nt