How Sea Otters Could SAVE the Ocean | A Deeper Dive

#seaotter #otter #kpassionate
Sea otters are something known as a keystone species. Which are species that play a critical role in maintaining the stability and health of their environment. It’s just like a keystone in an arch. While the keystone is under the least pressure of any of the other stones, without it the entire arch would collapse. This is exactly what happened between the years 1741 and 1911, Sea otters were hunted extensively for their fur, and their population fell from hundreds of thousands to just one to two thousand individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. In fact, so few otters remained that most scientists believed the species would become extinct.

This had a devastating effect on the marine ecosystem. And it had everything to do with a sea otter’s impressive metabolism. They need to eat a quarter of their body weight every single day. One of their favorite things to eat are sea urchins.
Sea urchins are voracious eaters. In fact, they are often the dominant herbivore in their environment. And their favorite food… is kelp.

So when the population of sea otters plunged the population of sea urchins soared. Left unchecked, these prickly echinoderms decimated the kelp forests. Turning the once vibrant ecosystems into underwater wastelands. Something called an urchin barren. Some of these urchin barren stretch for thousands of kilometers.

But there is good news. Thanks to conservation efforts, reintroduction programs, and an international ban on hunting, sea otter numbers have rebounded in about two-thirds of their historic range. This recovery is widely considered one of the greatest successes in marine conservation. This also means that the kelp forests are returning, providing protection and nutrition to the countless animals that call them home.
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Music by Harris Heller
Streambeats

Additional Still Photography by

[alegriah]

A simple explanation of a complex problem, beautiful scenery and Joey of course, excellent!

[ashleyb]

The thumbnail looks so nice! Love the font!

[kylieellway]

Move over David Attenburough, here comes KP! Nicely done.

[Time]

This was so beautiful! I wish everyone would take the time to educate themselves on the beautiful planet we live on and the important role everything and everyone plays. It’s very important for everything to be in balance. Looking forward for more! Thanks

[PandaBeiBei]

Beautiful Enlightening Video KP! Precious Joey and his Family at VanAqua are Wonderful Conservation Ambassadors!!!
💓💓🌊💁‍♀️🦦🦦🦦🌊💓💓

[ashleyb]

Very nice video! Beautiful shots of the water and I like the more serious tone of the video!

[JeffRebornNow]

This was a wonderfully presented overview of the importance of sea otters. Until I started watching Joey last summer, I didn't even know what a sea otter was. Now I've binge watched hundreds of videos and read several articles.

[helenpruzan]

The delicacy and strength of mother
nature.We really do live on a heavenly planet.I remember when we were in California for the first time and seeing those little otter faces popping up out of the water!It was magical.Thanks for the continuing education. Your love for animals and the planet is obvious.💖

[lb]

Amazing video. May so many more learn and respect, care for, and protect these sea otters and all of the other sea life. Thank you for all that you do (and your hubby).

[sombermoment]

This is so beautiful! Thank you for showing people how important these animals are.

[neilstewart]

Awesome work you do helping such wonderful animals

[lyndaperky]

What a beautiful area you live in. It was great to view them under the water in their pool as well as the closeups of them eating. That barren ocean view was amazing it really illustrates the loss of creatures and kelp. Kelp protects the land from waves also doesn’t it? You really are a great teacher and communicator. I really need to get caught up on your videos, I am st behind on three of them.I have learned so much more about otter behavior from you as well as the live feed. There is no way I could/would stand at an exhibit at the aquarium long enough to see and learn and ask questions. Until you actually said to spend time observing and asking questions of you guys I would just walk from one to the other. I feel fortunate to have observed, via live stream, and listened to you Q & A videos. Your excitement is really something. Thanks aa always.

[Jenny]

Fantastic video and editing (and screechy Joey)! I’m sending the link to this vid out to a bunch of family/friends!

[Ria-vfuj]

Loved this deep dive! Editing was so so good <3

[thedailyclaire]

This was so beautifully done. Stunning photographs and so much important data!

[kimberlyhendricks]

Great video! Loved it! The educational videos are great! Thanks KP. Keep up the great videos.

[lavendershampoo]

Amazing quality KP & DoubleAgent! I felt like I was watching a professional documentary! KPs voice is soothing and the music and videography put it over the top! I’m excited for more to come❣️

[ちーしろ-ix]

It's a sophisticated and beautiful video.
my heart feel calm.

[ElakhaAlliance]

Great video summary about this important keystone species! We're excited at the hopes of reintroducing sea otters on the Oregon coast soon.

[Nighteyes]

That was very informative and interesting to know. Thank you for this video ! Loved the editing and beautiful scenes.