MONTEREY, Calif. -- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published its decision to end southern California's "No-Otter" program. The Humane Society of the United States said the zone was put in place 25 years ago. It was part of a translocation program to create a new population of sea otters. They said the program didn't work.
The Humane Society said sea otters were threatened, which prevented them from going back to their habitat to recover their population.
Now several groups including the Friends of the Sea Otter, Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife, Oceans Public Trust Initiative and others are supporting the decision of Fish & Wildlife Services to end "No-Otter." The Humane Society said its a step in the right direction towards the recovery of the sea otter population.
The Humane Society of the U.S. said in 1986 California sea otters became protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. A translocation program was created to create a second population of sea otters. Animal protection groups said another group of sea otters needed to be made in case there is an oil spill or any kind of environmental disaster.
When Fish and Wildlife Services tried to move sea otters farther north, the population didn't grow and instead caused issues with the current survival of the other sea otters that were not moved.
