Become a Certified Wildlife Steward!
About Community Active Wildlife Stewards
Sea Otter Savvy is partnering with Respect Wildlife, and Central California coastal communities to offer an innovative and exciting recognition program for businesses and others demonstrating exceptional wildlife stewardship-- the Community Active Wildlife Stewards (CAWS) group and certification program. Designed to encourage voluntary adherence to responsible wildlife viewing guidelines, this certification system will offer rewards to commercial operators, organizations, school groups, and individuals who, having demonstrated compliance with a clear set of criteria promoting and encouraging respectful coastal wildlife viewing, will be recognized as "Certified Wildlife Stewards". Participants will receive certification "swag" featuring one or all of our multi-species designs to display proudly in their shop, visitor's center, on their boat, or digitally on their website or social media accounts. Hear founder Gena Bentall talk about the origins and progress of CAWS.
Additional participation benefits:
- Reviews on Trip Advisor and Google
- Promotion on websites and social media
- Inclusion/promotion in wildlife-related media projects and press releases
Community Active Wildlife Stewards is a program rooted in the central coast community. The framework has been developed and reviewed with the participation of local stakeholders (our founding members) in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. Community participants (and applicants) have a voice in building on the current framework and adapting it to best serve both wildlife and businesses. At the intersection of that which benefits busineses with that which benefits wildlife, is a place that benefits an inclusive coastal community.
"This is the ONLY program that is consistently helping all businesses provide accurate, consistent and up-to-date wildlife viewing information to the public" - Cass, owner Monterey Bay Kayaks
Our goal with the participation rewards system will be to not only encourage not only sea otter savvy, but wildlife savvy behavior within the community, but create an atmosphere of consumer choice, encouraging all commercial groups within a region to join Community Active Wildlife Stewards and apply for certification. Certification of commercial operators will include such elements as:
- Presentation of information/guidelines to customers prior to tour or gear rental
- Display of informational graphics where customers can view them
- Compliance with guidelines for avoiding disturbance, and established laws protecting designated species
- Participation in an educational workshop showcasing wildlife behavior, natural history, conservation, defining harassment and disturbance and presenting Community Active Wildlife Stewards' guidelines for responsible viewing
Meet our certified participants! You can reward their stewardship by patronizing these sea otter (and wildlife) savvy businesses and recommending them to others! Another way to help: Your donation to Sea Otter Savvy also supports this community conservation program!
A Kayak Shack
Certified June 2025
Jeff and Wendy Photography
Certified January 2022
Steward Of The Year 2025
Special Recognition: Morro Bay Harbor Department
Central Coast Outdoors
Certified July 2021
Monterey Bay Kayaks
Certified January 2020
Elkhorn Slough Safari
Certified January 2020
Kayak Connection
Certified June 2022
Monterey Bay Eco Tours
Certified December 2020
Monterey Bay Hydrobikes
Certified June 2024
Whisper Charters
Certified January 2020
New! Salt + Noelle
Certified February 2026
Ingrid Taylar Photography
Certified October 2022
Pacific Grove Adventures
Certified August 2023
Join the team!
Do you want to become a Certified Wildlife Steward? Click here to view the checklist of participation criteria to become a certified participant in this community-based program. You can review the Community Active Wildlife Stewards Draft Program Framework here. The Framework is intended to be a dynamic document that will continue to evolve as the group incorporates feedback and new program elements and so will always be in "draft" form.
"The webinars are fantastic! We've learned something new from each one we've experienced. Learning how to communicate to our clients in a meaningful way, why it is so important not to disturb wildlife/sea otters makes a huge difference. You can see the "aha" moment in their eyes and know that they truly understand and care and will carry that forward in other experiences they have." - Virginia, co-owner Central Coast Outdoors
Undercover shoppers needed: Do you like to kayak on the central California coast? You can help evaluate, certify, and recognize businesses by joining our undercover team. Learn more.
Complete our Certified Wildlife Steward inquiry form:
Resources
The Marine Mammal Protection Act
The Endangered Species Act Basics
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act Basics
About National Marine Sanctuaries
NOAA Fisheries Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
National Marine Sanctuaries Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation of Mammals
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation of Birds
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Conservation