Date

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Speaker

Location

Parking:
On site and free.

Time

Cost

Title

What Does The Sea Otter's Return Mean To Santa Barbara?

Topics

This presentation will focus on the recovery of the California sea otter and the ecological consequences of the otter's return. We'll learn that by eating 15 to 20 pounds of food per day, the sea otter completely changes the near shore marine ecosystem. We'll discuss why sea otter recovery is so slow, and why the sea otter is a good indicator of ocean health. And, we'll discuss the major issues facing sea otter recovery and what is being done to overcome those obstacles.

Not everyone is happy with the sea otter's return to Santa Barbara. Why is that? The ultimate in 'charismatic megafauna' and a poster child for the Endangered Species Act, most are delighted by the sea otter's reappearance after 150 years, along Santa Barbara's shore. But the otter catalyzes huge changes in the marine ecosystem: more kelp and more fish, higher diversity and productivity. But change is not welcomed by fishermen geared up for things-as-they-are.

About the Speaker

Steve Shimek is Executive Director of The Otter Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the recovery of the California sea otter and near shore ocean health. Steve also serves on the US Fish and Wildlife Service Sea Otter Recovery Implementation Team and is Co-Chair of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) Conservation Working Group. He is currently very involved with the creation of a network of marine parks and reserves spanning the entire coast of California. He regularly communicates with The Otter Project's 4000 members, members of Congress, other NGOs, and State Legislators. Steve graduated in 1975 from UC Santa Cruz with a BS in biology with an emphasis on marine studies.