584 



(DFG receives no appropriations from the state treasury. It is entirely sup- 

 ported by license and permit fees. Therefore its partisanship for a commercial 

 species in conflict with a noncommercial species is hardly surprising. ) 



Dr. Burney LeBocuf, a marine biologist at the University of California at 

 Santa Cruz, answered the contention of the abalone fishermen that southern 

 otters are no different from northern otters and therefore should be "managed" 

 and not given the protection of the endangered species label. "The sea otter col- 

 ony off the coast of California is small," Dr. LeBocuf said. "The colony is also 

 unique. The California otters differ in several important behaviors from their 

 counterparts in Alaska. To tamper with a small colony of a unique and endan- 

 gered species is foolhardy." To this might be added the simall ix>int that for the 

 majority of Americans interested in seeing their sea otters playing in the surf, 

 it is easier to get to Point Lobos than to the Aleutian Island of Amchitka, where 

 the northern otters live. 



Southern sea otters, once one of the prides of the wildlife conservation move- 

 ment, obviously are not yet out of danger. Abalone fishermen, under^tandalbly 

 distressed at the loss of their fishery, nevertheless cannot be permitted to vent 

 their spleen on the otters. The otters are not responsible for the loss of the abalone 

 fishery ; and even if they were, the existence of a unique remnant of a formerly 

 great population of one of the Earth's most enchanting creatures is of immeas- 

 urably greater importance than the preference of a few gourmets for a particu- 

 lar kind of snail. Furthermore, the state of California certainly should not abet 

 such distorted values as would place the dollar value of abalone over the otters. 



"You would think that the people in the Monterey-Morro Bay region might 

 look at the past," wrote Neal Thomas of Huntington Beach, California, in a 

 letter to FSO. "They had a thriving whale fishery once and ruined it, then they 

 had a sardine fishery and ruined it, now they have an anchovy fishery and are 

 trying to ruin it. Sea otters have never 'ravaged' any whales, sardines, or an- 

 chovies — ^to the best of my knowledge." 



Every possible action should be taken immediately to enforce the otter's pro- 

 tective laws. DFG wardens have been praised at every hand for their vigorous 

 efforts in enforcing the law, but they have a very large area to cover and need 

 more men. 



Research into abalone culture already is under way by DFG biologist "Wilson 

 and others and should be pressed as energetically as possible. In the meantime, 

 the Department of Fish and Game should halt the taking of wild abalone every- 

 where in California for long enough to allow the snails to recover their popula- 

 tion, then should promulgate sustained-yield fisliing regulations. Presumably res- 

 taurants and markets in California and elsewhere would not be able to sell 

 abalone if commercial taking were ended, but in any event they should suspend 

 sales, and consumers should no longer purchase abalone anywhere. (They are 

 exploited wherever they are fished. ) 



Finally, otters should be encouraged, not discouraged, to extend their range 

 as they are able. For further information readers may write to Friends of the 

 Sea Otter, Big Sur, California 93920. 



(Whereupon, at 5:18 p.m., the meeting was recessed subject to call 

 of the Chair.) 



o 



