ACS Monterey Bay Program for June 2007

Sea Otters and Safe Seas: What can be done?

Thursday, June 28, 2007 7 p.m. Refreshments, 7:30 p.m. Program Lecture Hall, Monterey Boatworks, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove (Across from American Tin Cannery Outlet Stores) Speaker: Steve Shimek

Sea otters are important to us and our ecosystem in many ways. As apex predators they play an important function in their own food web, as a keystone species they have an impact outside of their food web by playing a key role in maintaining the kelp forest habitat, and as an indicator species they provide insight into the health of the near-shore environment.

Sea otters are perhaps the most studied and best understood marine mammal. It is clear now that sea otters often suffer from suppressed immune systems and they are swimming in an ever-thickening soup of disease. Our speaker will discuss current population trends along with actions that can be taken to encourage sea otter recovery and improved ocean health. This discussion will include the impact of toxic chemicals, sewage, domestic and feral cat feces, jet skis and fishing gear on the well-being and recovery of the sea otter population.

Our speaker, Steve Shimek, is executive director of both The Otter Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of the California sea otter and near shore ocean health and the Monterey Coastkeeper, a water quality watchdog group. Steve also serves on the US Fish and Wildlife Service Sea Otter Recovery Implementation Team and is Co-Chair of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Conservation Working Group.

Saving sea otters is the right thing to do and benefits us all. Please join us and learn about real solutions and real actions that will support the continued recovery of this important marine mammal.

Related web pages:

• The Otter Project
• Monterey Coastkeeper
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Conservation Working Group

• Back to list of previous meetings.