Mission

Sea Otter Savvy  fosters awareness and stewardship in central California coastal communities and the wildlife-viewing public to reduce human-sea otter conflict and disturbance and increase an ethic of co-existence.

The Sea Otter Savvy program was established in summer of 2015 as a result of collaborative efforts by Southern Sea Otter Research Alliance members from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Friends of the Sea Otter, and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A panel of these advisors meets regularly to discuss strategies and upcoming projects.  As we have grown and developed, Sea Otter Savvy has become a trusted source of sea otter information throughout California and beyond. Our community-based research and outreach program was recognized as a tax-exempt public benefit nonprofit organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) in 2020. 

The US Fish & Wildlife Service, the agency tasked with the management and recovery of the southern sea otter, is currently focused on sea otter ecology, behavior, and risk in estuaries and has identified human-caused disturbance as a priority issue for the southern sea otter. Additionally, USFWS has listed outreach and community engagement as essential recovery actions in recovery plan. Learn more by reading the Southern Sea Otter 5-Year Review:Summary and Evaluation (See Factor B, Overutilization for Recreational Purposes) and the Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Recovery, section B.7)

The approach of these kayakers caused these sea otters to swim away, wasting vital energy. Photo by Gena BentallAs southern sea otters (the subspecies Enhydra lutris nereis) recolonize the coastal habitats from which they were nearly extirpated during the maritime fur trade of the 1800s, they  increasingly come into contact with human activities. In harbors, estuaries, and other sheltered waters of the California coast, this charismatic species is a primary attraction for visitors and is also exposed incidentally to other human-related dangers, such as boat traffic, fishing line entanglement, and domestic animal interactions.

Among marine mammals, sea otters have unique characteristics that make them more vulnerable to the negative effects of human-caused disturbance. Lacking the blubber layer of other marine mammals, they rely on a dense fur coat and a hot-burning metabolism to maintain body temperature in cold ocean waters. Energy is at a premium, and they have none to waste on avoiding encroaching humans.

Recent research on the energy expenditures of reproductive female sea otters has shown that individuals in this stage are physiologically challenged, suggesting that repeated disturbance can be harmful to sea otters by depleting their critical energy reserves. In extreme cases, the additional stress caused by human disturbance may lead to pup abandonment or even death.

Wildlife tour operators, kayakers, photographers, and other marine recreationists often approach too closely, causing the repeated disturbance of sea otters throughout the day. Without access to information, individuals participating in marine recreation activities may have little understanding of wildlife behavior (such as cues to imminent disturbance), laws protecting marine mammals, or the negative impacts of human-caused disturbance on wildlife.

Sea otters are essential members of the North Pacific coastal communities. Their ecosysytem services are well documented and their presence can confer economic benefit to human communities. Sea Otter Savvy strives to better understand the effects of human disturbance on sea otters, and to share that knowledge in a way that inspires stewardship.

The goal of the Sea Otter Savvy program is to reduce sea otter disturbance by inspiring responsible viewing of wild sea otters. The program will accomplish this goal by engaging and educating the wildlife-viewing public, either directly or indirectly through operators of marine recreation and ecotourism businesses.

Four major tasks are needed to fulfill the objectives:

1. Identify the target audience, measure program effectiveness, and quantify the effects of disturbance on sea otters activity levels by establishing baseline and post-inception levels and mechanisms of sea otter disturbance
2. Develop guidelines to assist the target audience with strategies for avoiding disturbance of sea otters
3. Create and disseminate outreach content to provide comprehensive information to our target audience in order to create a deeper awareness of sea otter conservation issues.
4. Build a public recognition system for organizations and individuals complying with and promoting disturbance-avoidance techniques and policies.

The Sea Otter Savvy program officially launched in August of 2015 and since then have been in the process of researching, developing, and disseminating outreach materials, establishing relationships with stakeholders, certifying local businesses,  giving public presentations, recruiting and training volunteers, and collecting sea otter disturbance data in three central coast regions.

In the image to the right, the staff of Monterey Bay Kayaks, the first central California business certified under our Community Active Wildlife Stewards program, demonstrates their sea otter savvy by grouping a tour group for a sea otter talk at a respectful distance from a sea otter raft.

In spring and summer of 2016, we began distributing a waterproof kayak decal with a "Be Sea Otter Savvy" message to kayak rental shops. By positioning a sea otter savvy message prominantly within view of kayak and paddleboard paddlers, we hope to to keep them mindful of responsible practices after they paddle away from the beach or dock.

Our program offers free materials for educational purposes to:

• marine recreation and tourism-related businesses
• classrooms
• clubs
• organizations

The materials are geared towards assisting owners, teachers, and leaders in educating their customers, students, staff and members about the unique biology and natural history of sea otters as well as simple guidelines to help reduce their chances of unintentionally causing a disturbance to resting and other behaviors. Browse the slideshow below to see a sample of materials offered by Sea Otter Savvy.

Keep an eye out for our free "Respect the Nap" stickers at coastal business and special events! Look for us at these Central California coast events:

• WhaleFest Monterey
• Earth Day Santa Cruz
• Moss Landing Street Fair
• The Ocean Fair in San Simeon
• Morro Bay Winterfest Paddle Parade
• And of course, Sea Otter Awareness Week!

Please contact us by email at for materials and more information.