Sea otters are keystone species whose recovery has transformed Pacific coastal ecosystems. But individual sea otter welfare is affected by pollution, white shark predation, and entanglement — issues that welfare science is beginning to address.
Sea otter welfare is shaped by the energetic demands of maintaining body temperature without blubber in cold Pacific waters — a vulnerability that makes food availability and hunting success critical daily welfare concerns. White shark predation creates an interesting welfare complexity: surviving a shark attack often leaves otters with severe wounds that cause prolonged suffering, and bite wounds are the most common injury in stranded California sea otters. HAB toxin exposure causes acute neurological suffering — affected otters strand with seizures, disorientation, and respiratory distress. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation programme provides both population support and individual welfare intervention through stranded animal rehabilitation.