State Sea Otter Population Grows Slightly in 2012

For 30 years, the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center has been tracking sea otter populations along the California coast and this year's annual census is complete, the project leader said this week.

The spring 2012 sea otter count began in April and was completed mid-June, with 2,486 of the mammals tracked by observers on the ground and in the air, project leader for sea otter studies at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center Tim Tinker said.

Also counted during the observation period were 379 sea otter pups.

Scientists tracked the sea otters from San Mateo County to the Santa Barbara area. Since the count, scientists have been able to compile data and ascertain trends within the sea otter population.

However, the scientists are more focused on longer-term trends, and analyze three-year population averages to account for measuring errors and other mistakes in counting the animals, instead of a year-to-year analysis.

Along the coast population numbers this year varied with "some areas growing, others stagnant, others decreasing," Tinker said.

In the last count in 2010, 2,452 sea otters were counted. Weather conditions made recording numbers unfeasible in 2011, Tinker said.

An increase in sea otters north of Monterey was recorded this year, and overall the marine biologists are "cautiously optimistic" about an up-tick from 2010.

The central coast had no growth while south of the Morro Bay area saw a population decrease, Tinker said. Compared to other Western coastal areas, "the pattern of recovering doesn't look so healthy" for sea otters, Tinker said.

The animals were once poached for their fur in the 19th and parts of the 20th century and have since worked to repopulate.

Tinker noted incremental population growth over time, but by small percentages such as 2 or 3 percent. Sea otters are an "excellent indicator species," according to Tinker.

The marine mammals provide information about the California coastal environment, especially since they are highly susceptible to stressors.

"The narrow coastal band where humans spend most of our time is hard to study," Tinker said.

Therefore the sea otters are used as a "keystone predator species" that can be tracked and observed as they consume urchins, marine snail, abalone and other invertebrates which limits kelp forest growth.

"We tend to see an ecosystem shift when sea otters recover," the biologist said.

The annual census was a collaboration with the state Department of Fish and Game's Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the University of California at Santa Cruz, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and other volunteers, creating about a 30-person team, Tinker said.

-- Bay City News

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