The Otter Project Acquired by California Coastkeeper Alliance to Enhance the Southern Sea Otter’s Recovery
The Otter Project is thrilled to announce its merger with California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA), a leading advocate in the fight for Californian’s swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters statewide. The strategic partnership bolsters The Otter Project’s capacity to tackle growing threats facing the endangered, keystone species so beloved by Californians.
Since 1998, The Otter Project has protected California watersheds and coastal oceans for the benefit of southern sea otters and California’s coastal communities through science-based policy and advocacy. Dedicated to the recovery of the southern sea otter, The Otter Project has utilized and interpreted the most current scientific literature on sea otters to fulfill our mission through various forms of advocacy.
By merging with California Coastkeeper Alliance, to become a program of CCKA, The Otter Project gains the expertise and weight of CCKA’s decades-long success advancing statewide policies and programs to protect and enhance clean and abundant waters throughout the state for the benefit of Californians and California ecosystems. CCKA is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of water advocates with more than 300 programs in 44 countries on 6 continents. CCKA works with local Waterkeeper organizations to develop, implement, and defend policies that meet the needs of California’s distinct communities and ecosystems. Additionally, CCKA actively seeks federal and state agency implementation of the Clean Water Act and, where necessary, initiates enforcement actions on behalf of itself and its members.
CCKA has been a long-term, established partner of The Otter Project—with whom The Otter Project’s historic program Monterey Waterkeeper was affiliated (a program of The Otter Project for the last 15 years that has excitingly grown to become its own 501(c)(3) with support from The Otter Project and CCKA).
Now fighting to defend the Southern Sea Otter with the full weight of CCKA, The Otter Project will enhance the rapid recovery of the threatened southern sea otter by securing protected sea otter habitat, defending California’s kelp forests, eliminating devastating sea otter mortalities, and safeguarding our coastal communities. With the otter under greater threat than ever—The Otter Project’s advocacy will be bolstered both because of CCKA’s experience and achievements having tackled these issues and through CCKA’s increased, skillful capacity.
As experts in coastal water quality and the land-sea interface, The Otter Project and California Coastkeeper Alliance are a powerful team to fight for the beloved sea otter.
Statement from The Otter Project founder
Steve Shimek
In 1998, I founded The Otter Project to protect the threatened southern sea otter and the ocean it calls home. Since then, The Otter Project has advanced the recovery of the sea otter through science-based policy, advocacy, and education.
Together with you, we have literally changed the map. We moved shipping traffic into far-offshore organized lanes, reducing the chances of groundings and oil spills. Together, we abolished the federal “no otter zone” and allowed sea otters to recolonize Southern California waters.
We found ourselves in unexpected and un-otterly places. California sea otters found themselves on page five of the National Defense Reauthorization Act, the must-pass legislation that funds national defense and the military; we worked closely with the House and Senate reconciliation committee, and it was Senator John McCain that demanded a “clean” bill stripped of pork, otters, and all unnecessary issues. Then, after our no-otter-zone win, the Attorney General of Texas, along with a dozen other conservative states, petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn the abolishment of the no otter zone: the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. And, we found ourselves in California Superior Court, with two Stanford University student lawyers (who looked incredibly young) on the otter’s side, fighting for clean water, and fourteen lawyers representing corporate agriculture and the California Attorney General on the other. Otters, and the students, won the day: a highlight of my lifetime.
In a past newsletter, I had announced my plan to close The Otter Project and retire in 2018. I received a series of emails and phone calls stridently “requesting” I stay engaged until the threat of the then current administration passed. Earlier this year, I began my transition into retirement, but not without ensuring that The Otter Project will continue to fight for the beloved sea otter with the same vigor for the next twenty years and beyond.
I am thrilled to announce that The Otter Project has been acquired by California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA), a long-time partner of The Otter Project and leading advocate in the fight for swimmable, fishable, drinkable waters for all Californians. CCKA was founded in 1999 to restore kelp forests in California, and later broadened its mission to all aspects of inland and coastal water quality. With decades-long success in advancing coastal protections and statewide policies to protect clean water, CCKA is a natural fit to continue the work of The Otter Project.
I am honored to have served as the Executive Director of The Otter Project for more than twenty years, and to have had your support in defending this iconic species and beautiful coast and ocean. I look forward to witnessing The Otter Project’s continued success in partnership with CCKA.
Sincerely,
Steve Shimek