We've been working on
We've been working on

a sea otter project looking at the conflict between commercial fisheries
a sea otter project looking at the conflict between commercial fisheries

and sea otters.
and sea otters.

In southern Southeast Alaska we're seeing increases
In southern Southeast Alaska we're seeing increases

in the sea otter population. They're actually fairly significant increases, so this is
in the sea otter population. They're actually fairly significant increases, so this is

a growing
a growing

population both in distribution and abundance.
population both in distribution and abundance.

The issue was brewing in my mind for a couple years before
The issue was brewing in my mind for a couple years before

Zac approached me about trying to tackle it from a research end.
Zac approached me about trying to tackle it from a research end.

Primarily that was because
Primarily that was because

Dungeness crabbers were coming and either talking to me or I'd listen to them
Dungeness crabbers were coming and either talking to me or I'd listen to them

testifying at Shellfish Board of Fish meeting.
testifying at Shellfish Board of Fish meeting.

Their concerns are both for
Their concerns are both for

their bottom line but I think also for the resource because
their bottom line but I think also for the resource because

once they've seen otters in a bay for several years or even just one or two
once they've seen otters in a bay for several years or even just one or two

years,
years,

they won't fish there anymore because they're not catching any
they won't fish there anymore because they're not catching any

crab there anymore. They're worried that they're going to lose their income.
crab there anymore. They're worried that they're going to lose their income.

They're also worried that that because they're being forced into the
They're also worried that that because they're being forced into the

smaller areas they're going to overly deplete
smaller areas they're going to overly deplete

that resource. Right now sea otters are competing directly for the
that resource. Right now sea otters are competing directly for the

California sea cucumbers,
California sea cucumbers,

which are commercially harvested by divers, as well as geoduck clams, red
which are commercially harvested by divers, as well as geoduck clams, red

sea urchins
sea urchins

and the Dungeness crab fishery. Sea otters were
and the Dungeness crab fishery. Sea otters were

extirpated on by the commercial fur trade probably by
extirpated on by the commercial fur trade probably by

the late 1800s and by 1911 when
the late 1800s and by 1911 when

the International Fur Seal treaty was put in place,
the International Fur Seal treaty was put in place,

sea otters were non-existent southeast Alaska. Otters were reintroduced in the
sea otters were non-existent southeast Alaska. Otters were reintroduced in the

late sixties.
late sixties.

A little over 400 otters were translocated. The populations
A little over 400 otters were translocated. The populations

were really insignificant as a related to competition with commercial
were really insignificant as a related to competition with commercial

fisheries for probably
fisheries for probably

twenty-plus years. But as these populations of otters got established
twenty-plus years. But as these populations of otters got established

they got to a point where they could
they got to a point where they could

grow rapidly in the in the way of numbers.
grow rapidly in the in the way of numbers.

At the same time, commercial fisheries were being developed. We really
At the same time, commercial fisheries were being developed. We really

started seeing the conflict between
started seeing the conflict between

otters and fishermen probably in the early nineties. At that point the
otters and fishermen probably in the early nineties. At that point the

otter population was at a level that it was impacting
otter population was at a level that it was impacting

commercial fisheries. Since that time we've seen
commercial fisheries. Since that time we've seen

the otter population continue to grow as well
the otter population continue to grow as well

as the participation and value of some these commercial fisheries grow.
as the participation and value of some these commercial fisheries grow.

We've seen several areas that have been closed to commercial fishing.
We've seen several areas that have been closed to commercial fishing.

And once those areas have been depleted of a couple of these resources, they've
And once those areas have been depleted of a couple of these resources, they've

they've remained closed.
they've remained closed.

Sea otters are kind of at the top of their food chain.
Sea otters are kind of at the top of their food chain.

And they're voracious predators. Because of that voracious appetite
And they're voracious predators. Because of that voracious appetite

they have the ability to consume a lot
they have the ability to consume a lot

in an area. So the classic paradigm is that where otters move in
in an area. So the classic paradigm is that where otters move in

they remove herbivores from the ecosystem and that allows
they remove herbivores from the ecosystem and that allows

kelps to reestablish themselves. And some these large canopy
kelps to reestablish themselves. And some these large canopy

kelps such as macrocystis, those are important and very productive habitats
kelps such as macrocystis, those are important and very productive habitats

especially for early life history.
especially for early life history.

We're seeing in areas where otters are moving in, they're changing
We're seeing in areas where otters are moving in, they're changing

those ecosystems currently here.
those ecosystems currently here.

Areas that are going from a monoculture, like
Areas that are going from a monoculture, like

urchin barrens for instance, changing into a
urchin barrens for instance, changing into a

more diverse ecosystem. And that's great when we talk about
more diverse ecosystem. And that's great when we talk about

ecosystems, but when we talk about commercial fisheries that's not a good
ecosystems, but when we talk about commercial fisheries that's not a good

thing.
thing.

That is precluding some of the existing fisheries
That is precluding some of the existing fisheries

from moving forward in southeast Alaska.
from moving forward in southeast Alaska.

These populations of otters, they haven't been followed well since they were
These populations of otters, they haven't been followed well since they were

reestablished.
reestablished.

So the first thing we need to do is just know how many otters were here.
So the first thing we need to do is just know how many otters were here.

And once we establish that, ongoing with
And once we establish that, ongoing with

those efforts to survey the otters, we also felt it was very important to look
those efforts to survey the otters, we also felt it was very important to look

at the
at the

diet of sea otters. What are sea otters consuming? What proportion of their diet
diet of sea otters. What are sea otters consuming? What proportion of their diet

is these commercially important species? We're using high-powered telescopes
is these commercially important species? We're using high-powered telescopes

to observe otters. Lucky for us, otters bring everything they eat to the surface.
to observe otters. Lucky for us, otters bring everything they eat to the surface.

We're also recording their dive times, and how many calories per unit effort an
We're also recording their dive times, and how many calories per unit effort an

otter is consuming.
otter is consuming.

Commercially important species are some other most calorically rich and preferred prey of
Commercially important species are some other most calorically rich and preferred prey of

sea otters. The third aspect of this research
sea otters. The third aspect of this research

is to look at otters' movement at the edge the range.
is to look at otters' movement at the edge the range.

We've established that otters are impacting these commercial fisheries.
We've established that otters are impacting these commercial fisheries.

And so one of the things we wanted to do is look at otters and
And so one of the things we wanted to do is look at otters and

how otters were distributed and how their dispersal was from these
how otters were distributed and how their dispersal was from these

edge of the range areas. As otters move into new areas, areas there haven't
edge of the range areas. As otters move into new areas, areas there haven't

been
been

existing are established populations in yet,
existing are established populations in yet,

we were questions what's going happen here in the next year or two. So we've
we were questions what's going happen here in the next year or two. So we've

instrumented
instrumented

30 otters in this area with VHF transmitters
30 otters in this area with VHF transmitters

and we're following those otters as they disperse from where we caught them.
and we're following those otters as they disperse from where we caught them.

The next step of the research is collecting forging data from those
The next step of the research is collecting forging data from those

animals.
animals.

Right now we're working in Saginaw Bay. This bay has been inhabited by sea otters
Right now we're working in Saginaw Bay. This bay has been inhabited by sea otters

probably for about seven or eight years now.
probably for about seven or eight years now.

and there's no longer a commercial dungeness in Saginaw bay.
and there's no longer a commercial dungeness in Saginaw bay.

Today we probably saw 100 to 125
Today we probably saw 100 to 125

otters in the bay. It looks like from some work we've done previously they're
otters in the bay. It looks like from some work we've done previously they're

mostly eating several species of clams and smaller crabs.
mostly eating several species of clams and smaller crabs.

We may be able to make some kind of prediction
We may be able to make some kind of prediction

for commercial fishermen that says
for commercial fishermen that says

this is what you can guess is going happen in the next 5 10 15 years
this is what you can guess is going happen in the next 5 10 15 years

in your fishery as we see this otter population change.
in your fishery as we see this otter population change.

The project itself is not going to be providing
The project itself is not going to be providing

answers or recommendations for what to do,
answers or recommendations for what to do,

but we'll be providing information that will help
but we'll be providing information that will help

decision-makers, policymakers, community members and commercial fishermen
decision-makers, policymakers, community members and commercial fishermen

make decisions about what to do in response,
make decisions about what to do in response,

if anything.
if anything.