Alaska Sea Otter Background and Recovery

The fur hunt of the 18th and 19th centuries was initiated by the Russians and began in the western Pacific, the Kuril and Commander Islands of Russia, and the far western Aleutian Islands. The hunt progressed eastward as sea otter populations were eliminated from many of the Aleutian Islands. The Aleuts were eventually enslaved by the Russians to further the hunt. The Russians established commerce and handling centers for the fur in Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 1 million sea otters were killed for their fur over a 170-year period, between 1742-1911.

Following the near decimation of the sea otter population worldwide there were eleven geographically isolated sea otter populations spread throughout their historic range. Most of these remnant populations were in the Aleutians and south central Alaska, with one in California, around the Big Sur coast, and a few in Russia.

It is estimated that 70-80% of the world’s current population of sea otters are found in the waters of Alaska. In 2007, the Alaskan sea otter population is believed to number 60,000 - 73,300 animals.

Three stocks of sea otter populations in Alaska have been identified by scientists: southwest, southeast, and south central.

Southwest:

The southwest stock, as defined by the scientists, includes the Alaska peninsula coast, the Aleutian Islands to Attu Island, Barren, Kodiak, Pribilof Islands, and Bristol Bay. The southwest stock has experienced severe declines.

Southeast:

The southeast stock extends from Dixon Entrance to Cape Yakataga and the best available scientific information suggests that the southeast stock continues to grow in numbers and expand in range. The southeast stock comprises sea otters captured at Amchitka and Prince William Sound and translocated to various sites in southeastern Alaska from 1965-1969.

South Central:

The south central stock extends from Cape Yakataga to Cape Douglas and includes Prince William Sound and the Kenai peninsula coast. The south central stock is believed to be either stable or increasing in numbers.

The southwest stock of northern sea otters in Alaska, were listed as “threatened” under the ESA in 2005. All sea otters in Alaska are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Defenders of Wildlife provides comments, testifies at hearings, and does educational outreach in order to help better understand and reverse dramatic population declines in portions of southwest Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands.