The mighty giant kelp forests of California are one of the most biologically dense and diverse ecosystems in the world. Charles Darwin made observations on this during his time on the HMS Beagle in 1909:

“...if in any country a forest was destroyed, I do not believe nearly so many species of animals would perish as would here, from the destruction of the kelp. Amidst the leaves of this plant numerous species of fish live, which nowhere else could find food or shelter; with their destruction the many cormorants and other fishing birds, the otters, seals, and porpoises, would soon perish…” 3*

Why Sea Otters? It's not just because they are cute and cuddly fur balls. It's because they are hungry, cute, cuddly fur balls. Sea otters are the only marine mammals that use fur instead of fat to keep themselves warm. They are also one of the smallest marine mammals, meaning they lose heat very quickly in the frigid arctic waters. To compensate for this loss, Sea Otters maintain an extremely high metabolism: in layman's terms, they eat a lot. Sea Otters need to consume at least one fourth of their body weight a day to maintain their warm blood in cold waters. This has a massive impact on the ecology of the environment around them.

“In March of 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) decision to terminate its failed “no otter” zone program offshore Southern California. FWS’ action was taken in response to a lawsuit brought by EDC and our client, The Otter Project, in 2009.”1*

The “No Otter Zone” meant any Sea Otters found in southern California would be relocated north. This was just one of the many challenges facing Sea Otters in their attempt to repopulate their original habitat. Unlike the coasts of Canada, Washington, and Oregon, California's coast line is very two dimensional with few safe harbors for young otters to develop and thrive. Past Sea Otter colonies relied on the size of the kelp forest they called home for these safe spaces. Sea otters have the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. As a result they were hunted to near extinction during the fur trades of the 18th and 19th century. Attempts have been made to bring back the southern Sea Otter from the brink of extinction. In 1987, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a program to reintroduce southern Sea Otters to San Nicolas Island, California. Initially deemed a “Failure,” the program was met with many challenges, but recently has shown some hope. As of 2020, reports showed a “22-percent increase in population,” 2* over the last five years. It is our intention to learn from these past experiences and develop an effective means of reintroducing and rebuilding sustainable Sea Otter populations.

Sea otters have another unique trait. It separates them from all other animals, except humans: Sea Otters have pockets. This is not to be confused with the marsupial pouch used to raise young; the otters’ pocket is specifically evolved to hold objects (such as rocks), which they use as a tool to bypass a creature’s shell – such as a sea urchin – and partake in the delicious meal inside.

Utilizing sea urchins as a food source made Sea Otters the unintentional guardians of the Kelp forest. By simply living in the forest, a sea otter can protect it from the constant deforestation that urchins cause. That is the heart of our program: if we can bring back the Sea Otters to the Channel Islands, then otters can restore the Channel Islands’ kelp forests. Think for a moment on how reintroducing wolves (a keystone species) to Yellowstone National Park revitalized that environment. Now, let’s apply that knowledge to the kelp forest.

Investing in our environment is only as effective as investing into the people who maintain it. We at the Otter Space Program believe education is the most important element to our community. We want to be able to provide comprehensive concepts in the most accessible form possible. The current method is presenting the educational adventure of Kevin Wetfoot, an ambitious young Sea Otter, on his journey into the Void, the forbidden No Otter Zone. Our story is a blend of Outer Space metaphors in Deep Sea Adventures, with fun facts hidden between every line. With our story and your support, we hope to inspire, educate, and transform one's view on mysteries of our planet's majestic ocean.

1. https://www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/programs_post_type/sea-otters-no-otter-zone/

2. https://www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/programs_post_type/sea-otters-no-otter-zone/

3. https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/history/quotes/abyss/abyss.html#:~:text=Yet%20if%20in%20any%20country,the%20destruction%20of%20the%20kelp.