From "extinct" to "maximum carrying capacity," a staunch mayor and her 11-acre refuge for abalone changed the trajectory of a species that once dwindled to 50 individuals.
I was hungry after reading of the bounty that awaited those first returning sea otters at this sanctuary. Madam Platt's vision as a biologist was remarkable. By divining the need to seed the sanctuary for future life, she created one of the great teaching episodes of environmental history. Luckily she ran for mayor, so was able to deal with the environmental and political aspects of the situation. A remarkable tale.
Amanda, your research, photos and notes are inspiring. Keystone animals are the keys to maintaining ecosystems . Humans somehow don’t seem to fit. We are like a Vance and destroy ourselves. Make there is an undiscovered gene that is programmed in certain individuals to destroy and others to create.
Yet again a wonderful story of advocacy and renewal. Have you ever been to the John Muir’s national park service home in Martinez? He too was such an inspiration for the earth. You would find it very informative with wheel chair access and it’s free.
Love this! Funny about the friction between Pratt and Hopkins! I wish I’d had your post when I taught environmental science and the importance of keystone species!
This was the coolest story! I sent it to all my friends. I’ve spent entire days watching those otters in Monterrey bay and had no idea they used to be extinct. Julia Platt’s orchestration of the whole thing was a massive cherry on top.
We have some similar challenges up in the northwest. Now I’m wondering if more sea otters could solve all the problems!
So cool to hear a success story. It is a reminder that sometimes our actions have consequences we may never know about. AND, I am sure Plato's success was difficult ans hard fought. She didn't choose the easy way forward!
It's absolutely amazing that the "keystone" was one tiny piece of coastline. I know a lot of other things had to go into this, but it really goes to show that one small project by one person can have a huge impact.
Seals have also had pushback from the fishing industry, but scientists found that in areas where seals were reintroduced and protected (with help from local fishers) that fish populations exploded. They were better off, even if seals ate catches off their nets. I wonder if the same could be found with sea otters? It should also help that they're absolutely adorable. The first plushie I ever gave my niblings was of a sea otter.
I do think the science shows that fishermen would ultimately benefit from sea otter reintroduction and their incredible ability to rebuild kelp forests. Would love to learn more about seals if you have a source?
After much searching through navy seal romance books (there’s so many…) and children’s books, I finally found it! It’s called The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal and a Marine Biologist’s Fight to Save a Species by Terrie M Williams.
(Gosh, finding books for adults on marine animals is really difficult! I’d actually written a whole response apologizing and wondering if I’d made it up when I finally cracked the Google code.)
While searching, I came across Where the Seals Sing: Exploring the Hidden Lives of Britain’s Grey Seals by Susan Richardson and A Year with the Seals: Unlocking the Secrets of the Sea's Most Charismatic and Controversial Creatures by Alix Morris. I haven’t read either so can’t vouch personally for them, but they look good. And they’re some of the few marine animal books for adults.
I was hungry after reading of the bounty that awaited those first returning sea otters at this sanctuary. Madam Platt's vision as a biologist was remarkable. By divining the need to seed the sanctuary for future life, she created one of the great teaching episodes of environmental history. Luckily she ran for mayor, so was able to deal with the environmental and political aspects of the situation. A remarkable tale.
Thanks William!
Dear lady - the person who dug this gold nugget out of obscurity deserves thanks. And I offer them.
Amanda, your research, photos and notes are inspiring. Keystone animals are the keys to maintaining ecosystems . Humans somehow don’t seem to fit. We are like a Vance and destroy ourselves. Make there is an undiscovered gene that is programmed in certain individuals to destroy and others to create.
Thank you, Richard. Many of us are certainly on different paths than others ...
Not Vance . But cancer.
Yet again a wonderful story of advocacy and renewal. Have you ever been to the John Muir’s national park service home in Martinez? He too was such an inspiration for the earth. You would find it very informative with wheel chair access and it’s free.
Thanks, Jerry. I'd never heard of this house. Thanks for letting me know. We'll check it out sometime.
Love this! Funny about the friction between Pratt and Hopkins! I wish I’d had your post when I taught environmental science and the importance of keystone species!
Thanks, Julie! I certainly never learned about any of this in school. It's great that you were teaching it.
This was the coolest story! I sent it to all my friends. I’ve spent entire days watching those otters in Monterrey bay and had no idea they used to be extinct. Julia Platt’s orchestration of the whole thing was a massive cherry on top.
We have some similar challenges up in the northwest. Now I’m wondering if more sea otters could solve all the problems!
Thanks for sharing it! Yes, I think the sunflower sea stars were decimated all the way to Alaska. Alaska has a lot of sea otters. Washington has about 3,000 after they were reintroduced in 1969. They've been extinct in Oregon since 1907 but recently the state spotted a pair of sea otters: https://www.opb.org/article/2024/07/03/sea-otters-spotted-off-oregon-coast-a-rare-sight-after-a-century-of-near-extinction/
Love the sunflower sea star joy 🌻
I think I need to get certified to scuba dive ...
So cool to hear a success story. It is a reminder that sometimes our actions have consequences we may never know about. AND, I am sure Plato's success was difficult ans hard fought. She didn't choose the easy way forward!
It's absolutely amazing that the "keystone" was one tiny piece of coastline. I know a lot of other things had to go into this, but it really goes to show that one small project by one person can have a huge impact.
Seals have also had pushback from the fishing industry, but scientists found that in areas where seals were reintroduced and protected (with help from local fishers) that fish populations exploded. They were better off, even if seals ate catches off their nets. I wonder if the same could be found with sea otters? It should also help that they're absolutely adorable. The first plushie I ever gave my niblings was of a sea otter.
I do think the science shows that fishermen would ultimately benefit from sea otter reintroduction and their incredible ability to rebuild kelp forests. Would love to learn more about seals if you have a source?
After much searching through navy seal romance books (there’s so many…) and children’s books, I finally found it! It’s called The Odyssey of KP2: An Orphan Seal and a Marine Biologist’s Fight to Save a Species by Terrie M Williams.
(Gosh, finding books for adults on marine animals is really difficult! I’d actually written a whole response apologizing and wondering if I’d made it up when I finally cracked the Google code.)
While searching, I came across Where the Seals Sing: Exploring the Hidden Lives of Britain’s Grey Seals by Susan Richardson and A Year with the Seals: Unlocking the Secrets of the Sea's Most Charismatic and Controversial Creatures by Alix Morris. I haven’t read either so can’t vouch personally for them, but they look good. And they’re some of the few marine animal books for adults.
Thank you for digging this all up! It's wonderful.
I just re-read my comment. I can spell, really I can. At least sometimes. Once again, lovely post.
Thank you!