Sea otters are a keystone species whose welfare and conservation are intimately linked to the health of kelp forest ecosystems that support thousands of other species.
Sea otters live energetically demanding lives requiring almost constant foraging to maintain body temperature in cold Pacific waters. Individual otters that are injured, sick, or experiencing reduced prey availability face rapid physiological decline due to their narrow energy margin. Conservation of sea otter populations directly serves individual welfare by maintaining habitat and prey abundance. Their keystone role means that each otter also indirectly supports the welfare of thousands of species that depend on the kelp forests otters maintain. Recovery efforts that address entanglement, disease, and habitat quality simultaneously serve individual welfare and ecosystem health.