In 2022, the US Fish & Wildlife Service issued a report finding that reintroducing sea otters to Oregon (and northern California) was feasible and would bring with it clear benefits both to sea otters as a species and the marine environment.

As a keystone species, sea otters are critical to maintaining the productivity and diversity of kelp forests. Without these marine mammals actively keeping the urchin population in check, kelp forests could turn into barren marine deserts, leading to a significant drop in biodiversity, harming the overall marine ecosystem.

Sea otters are also part of the cultural legacy of Oregon’s coastal tribes which was lost when sea otters were hunted to local extinction in Oregon during the 19th century fur trade. It’s long past time for a meaningful effort to undo this wrong.

It will ultimately require federal action from the US Fish & Wildlife Service for a reintroduction to take place.  We're encouraging Oregonians who agree to contact their members of Congress (their Representative and Oregon's two Senators) to let them know what you think.