Oregon students want to bring sea otters back

On Earth Day, over 150 University of Oregon students showed their support for bringing back sea otters to the Oregon coast. Sea otters are a keystone species because they help support healthy kelp forests which are vital for a healthy and resilient ocean. Sadly, they were hunted to extinction in Oregon for their luscious fur, which is the densest of any animal on the planet. Without sea otters, Oregon has experienced an overgrowth of purple sea urchins – a diet staple of sea otters – which love to munch on kelp forests, and have in part caused some to disappear entirely.

In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a feasibility study which found that bringing sea otters back to the Oregon coast is possible, and would likely have a positive environmental impact. Right now, they’re deliberating on whether or not to move forward with a reintroduction proposal. Being on campus on Earth Day made it clear Oregon’s students and youth want to see these charismatic critters back in the water and to make our ocean more resilient.

Here are just a few highlights from the day:

Support is growing to bring back sea otters to Oregon. Join us by adding your name to the chorus of others who want a healthier and more resilient ocean off our coast.