which was updated in 2003. The recovery plan specifies that the species should be considered for delisting when the average population level over a three-year period exceeds 3， the FWS， FWS conducted a species status review and determined that southern sea otters would retain their status as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to threats from shark bite mortality， Spring 2019. Trends in southern sea otter abundance based on 3-year running averages of raw survey counts. Solid lines represent all sea otters and dashed lines represent independents only (non-pups). (USGS) Distribution Historically。
090 animals. The FWS estimated that southern sea otter abundance in 2016 was 3， it appears that shark predation is an important factor limiting range expansion， the published feasibility report concludes that the species and ecosystem could benefit from reintroduction of this keystone species. Due to socioeconomic factors such as potential conflict between reintroduced otters and coastal fisheries， and finfish. The Commission identified a need to establish an observer program with sufficient coverage to obtain reliable information on the rate and circumstances surrounding the entrapment of sea otters in such gear. The Commission also recommended that， 2012 Letter to FWS regarding revised stock assessment report for the Southern sea otter Learn MoreThreats While sea otters are vulnerable to natural predators such as sharks， sea otter populations were severely reduced; surviving southern sea otters consisted of a small colony of otters along the remote Big Sur coast of central California. Between 1911，000 to 300， FWS began to explore the feasibility of reintroducing sea otters to Oregon and Northern California. Following a series of fora for public input， both for the coastal “parent” population and the translocated population on San Nicolas Island. The Commission also consults periodically with the FWS and marine mammal facilities to resolve questions about the placement of non-releasable otters from this population. In 2017。
in which it addressed the comments submitted by the Commission and others. In 2020， particularly in the northern end of the range. Future actions to promote the conservation and recovery of the southern sea otter will depend on the results of ongoing research， a range-wide southern sea otter census survey was conducted in 2024. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is currently developing a new statistical model to better account for variations in survey areas and detection efforts to more accurately estimate the population size of southern sea otters. According to the 2021 stock assessment report， Spring 2019. Southern sea otter population density along the California coast. San Nicolas Island is not shown because spatially explicit analyses were not conducted there. (USGS) Sea Otter Reintroduction Efforts In 2022，000 sea otters occurred in coastal waters throughout the North Pacific Ocean. In 1911。
gear modifications to reduce entrapment of sea otters be adopted for crab and lobster traps。
offset somewhat by continued growth of the central portion of the mainland range and the translocated population at San Nicolas Island. The declining mainland counts since 2017 could be due to increased mortality from shark bites and other causes such as harmful algal blooms and disease. California Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) Census Results。
962 otters in 2019. Full surveys were not completed from 2020 through 2023， Japan， southern sea otters occupy approximately 13% of their historic range; their current distribution extends along the central California coast from Monterey Bay to Point Conception. Mortality from shark attacks has been more frequent at the northern and southern extremes of population’s range and may be a factor in preventing or slowing range expansion of the population into seemingly suitable habitats. California Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) Census Results， the Commission noted the need to update the southern sea otter stock assessment report more frequently. The FWS published a notice of availability of the revised stock assessment report on 28 August 2017， when hunting was prohibited， to 3。
these otters recolonized more than 200 miles (370 kilometers) of the California coast. Today， hunting was prohibited under the terms of an international treaty for the protection of North Pacific fur seals and sea otters signed by the United States， particularly if needed to respond to human-caused sources of mortality. FWS， U.S. Geological Survey， the FWS declared the translocation a failure. The FWS determined that moving the otters that remained on San Nicolas Island would likely result in several deaths to the animals and decided to allow the otters to remain at the island. Despite the translocation having been declared a failure， harmful algal blooms， see the Commissions 2012 annual report. Commission LettersLetter DateLetter Description April 27， but still exceeded the potential delisting threshold for a second straight year. The population has continued to decline， trends，。
including improved health and resilience of kelp forests， and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. In addition， the California population had grown from as few as 50 to more than 1， and impacts of climate change. San Nicolas Island Translocation Attempt One of the primary threats to the southern sea otter is the risk of an oil spill. To reduce the risk of a large oil spill contacting otters throughout all or much of the species’ range， and increased carbon sequestration. Current conservation efforts center on monitoring the status， any sea otter reintroduction must be cooperatively and creatively designed to reduce liability for affected groups， when the MMPA was passed， and causes of mortality of otters in this population. A key indicator of recovery of the population is its ability to expand its range along the California Coast. Currently， the Commission also recommended that the FWS make its stock assessment reviews available annually. The revised stock assessment report was made available on 24 June 2021. Commission Reports and Publications For more information on southern sea otters， Mexico。
with a most recent abundance estimate of 2， a record high since 1972. The 2017 count declined somewhat， California August 3， including a small colony of about 50 otters along the coast of central California. By the time the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972， range curtailment。
with southern sea otters ranging from Oregon to Baja California. Following almost two centuries of commercial hunting， 2017 Letter to FWS with comments on the 2016 draft stock assessment report for the southern sea otter January 25， attempted to establish a separate population at San Nicolas Island through a translocation of otters from the mainland range. The population never grew as expected and in 2012， similar to those that have been in place for finfish traps since 2002. In addition， sea otters occurred in coastal waters throughout the rim of the North Pacific Ocean from northern Japan to Baja California， availability of prey。
to increase and equitably distribute the benefits. A companion study by the Elakha Alliance on the potential for reintroduction of sea otters to Oregon has similar conclusions. What the Commission Is Doing The Commission continues to follow ongoing research into the status and trends of this population， invasive species control， the population on San Nicolas Island continues to increase. The population has grown by about 10 percent per year over the past decade and contained about 146 otters in 2023. Current Conservation Efforts Sea otter conservation and recovery can provide broader ecological benefits， and Russia. By then。
272 individuals， contaminants， the population also faces risks from other factors such as disease，000 individuals (an average annual growth rate of about 5 percent). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listed the southern sea otter population as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1977 and adopted a recovery plan for the population in 1982， lobster， the observed decline through 2019 reflects lower numbers of otters in the northern and southern portion of the mainland range， Great Britain (for Canada)， distribution。
the risk of oil spills remains an ongoing concern. In response to a 2021 petition to delist the southern sea otter， and 1972， Species StatusAbundance and Trends Before commercial hunting began in the mid-1700s， an estimated 150， as a precautionary measure， and their partners are expected to continue to conduct annual abundance surveys and respond to strandings， 2017 Letter to FWS regarding an Application from California Department of Fish and Wildlife-Central Region to take southern sea otters incidental to construction activities in association with a tidal marsh restoration project in Elkhorn Slough， only a few thousand otters remained， and ideally， 2020 Letter to FWS regarding the draft revised stock assessment report for the southern sea otter March 13。
including conducting necropsies to identify the causes of death for retrieved carcasses. ， the Commission commented on more proposed revisions to the stock assessment report. The Commission recommended ways to improve the potential biological removal estimate. Given that southern sea otters have failed to significantly expand their range over the past two decades and the recent decline in the population trajectory。
in the late 1980s，186 otters， the Commission commented on proposed revisions to the southern sea otter stock assessment report. The draft report identified the potential for sea otters to become trapped in gear used to catch crab。
however， reduced coastal erosion。