Wonderful news is making waves in the Pacific Northwest: the Seattle Aquarium has launched an ambitious research project that could one day return sea otters to the Oregon coast, where they have not swum for more than a century after disappearing because of the fur trade.
A global leader in sea otter conservation for over 30 years, the Aquarium is conducting the study in partnership with the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Elakha Alliance, with funding from the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Sea Otter Fund. The research will run through the end of 2028.
Teams will use scuba divers and remotely operated underwater vehicles to gather baseline data on both coasts: Oregon’s waters, where otters have been absent for generations, and Washington’s waters, where the playful mammals have returned and are thriving. They will measure populations of sea otter prey such as urchins, crabs and abalone, and capture thousands of images of rocky reef habitats.
The project even includes a knowledge exchange: Seattle Aquarium experts are training the Oregon Coast Aquarium team to build its very first ROV program. Findings will be shared with government, Tribal and conservation partners across the region.
A return of sea otters is still years away, but this research lays the foundation for a homecoming worth celebrating.
Photo: Seattle Aquarium
