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in Morro Bay will be used to better determine the level and 



significance of the incidental take of marine mammals, 



particularly sea otters, and measures that should be taken 



to reduce or prevent the incidental take. 



Review of the California Sea Otter Salvage Program 

 (T. Gerrodette, Ph.D.) 



Recovery and necropsy of beach-cast sea otter carcasses 

 can provide useful information on the distribution and 

 relative abundance of the species and on the frequency and 

 causes of mortality. The objectives of this study were to 

 determine the nature and extent of past and present sea 

 otter salvage, necropsy, and related programs conducted by 

 various organizations in California and how existing or 

 planned salvage and related programs might be revised or 

 expanded to provide a more reliable basis for detecting and 

 monitoring changes in the distribution, frequency, and 

 causes of sea otter mortality. The contract report, completed 

 in August 1983, identifies eight actions that could be taken 

 to improve the sea otter salvage/necropsy programs being 

 conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game and 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service. Copies of the report were 

 provided to the Department, the Service, and other interested 

 parties. The studies described in the next two project 

 summaries were undertaken to help answer some of the questions 

 raised in the report. 



Trial Systematic Salvage of Beach-Cast Otter Carcasses 

 (G. L. Jameson) 



The number of sea otter carcasses recovered on beaches 

 may be affected by a number of variables in addition to the 

 number of animals being killed or dying of natural causes. 

 The investigator is conducting periodic surveys of selected 

 beaches in the central part of the California sea otter 

 range to determine how recovery rates are affected by the 

 frequency and intensity of searches. The project, begun in 

 October 1983, is providing information on the effects of 

 independent variables on: harbor porpoise, harbor seal, and 

 other marine mammal mortality; the rates and causes of sea 

 otter mortality; and the probability of finding beach- 

 cast animals. Survey results will be reviewed by the Commission, 

 in consultation with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, 

 to determine how salvage data can be collected and analyzed 

 more effectively. 



