Sea otter survey scheduled

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Fisheries workers throughout Nuu-chah-nulth territory will undertake a survey to estimate sea otter population and its distribution along the West Coast of Vancouver Island in order to determine if the species should remain on the threatened species list.

The controversial critters are the cause of many heated debate between those who rely on eco-tourism for their livelihood, and those who depend on harvesting shellfish, an otter's traditional fare.

The otters' overpopulation in the northern region has led to a scarcity of sea urchins and abalone. But some argue the otter controls invertebrate populations and encourages the growth of kelp forests that protect beaches from erosion and provide a protected area for inshore fish to live and breed.

"The last count was done in 1994 by Dr. Jane Watson, who estimated the population to be around 1,500 animals, which means their population was growing at 18 per cent per year," said biologist Roger Dunlop. "At that growth rate, there could be 3,500 to 3,700 out there now, if their populations haven't plateaued at all."

The West Coast sea otter was much sought after in the 1800s and early 1900s by the European fur trade and were hunted to extinction. Otters were re-introduced from Alaska's Aleutian Islands in 1969 by the Atomic Energy Commission, which sent the creatures down before it started tests of nuclear weapons near Amchitka.

Since the original 89 sea otters were introduced into Checleset Bay 30 years ago, the result of their successful reproduction can be seen from Quatsino Sound to Barkley Sound.

"We had applied to DFO [the department of Fisheries and Oceans] to get funding for fuel and money to hire Jane Watson and a population biologist to do the analysis and report writing, but we haven't heard anything positive from them so we'll be doing it on our own," said Dunlop, who will be co-ordinating the study. "The plan is to start at Kyuquot with our biologists, as well as Jane Watson and the Kyuquot fisheries crew, and work our way down the coast doing raft counts and transects. We can't wait for DFO funding to be confirmed because this is the time of year when we have to do it so we can identify the pups as well."

Dr. Jane Watson, who has been studying the sea otters interactions with kelp forests since the original introduction of the otters in '69, will be assisting the Nuu-chah-nulth crews, and adding her expertise to the project.

Dunlops said though there seems to be a lot of sea otters out there, they are vulnerable if there is an oil spill. It could cripple the population and send it back to an endangered status.