What are the potential impacts to the sea otter from oil?
A. Sea otters are the marine mammals most vulnerable to oiling. The sea otters in California were given “threatened species” status due to their proximity to marine terminals in northern California and their risk from spills. A small amount of fur oiling or ingestion of oil can result in mortality. A permanent site has been established at University of California at Santa Cruz to clean and rehabilitate sea otters should they be oiled in a spill from any source. The MMS has funded a number of studies to refine clean-up techniques. The studies results were shared with those responding to the Valdez tanker accident and were used as the basis of response to the oiled animals. A handbook on the emergency care and rehabilitation of oiled sea otters has been published as a result of MMS-funded studies.
