Sea otters were nearly hunted into extinction a century ago for their luxurious pelts.
But they have been surging in population in the Gulf of Alaska, bringing both benefits to nearshore ecosystems and drawbacks to the shellfish economy.
Described by commercial shellfish harvesters and Native Alaskans as pillagers of clams and crabs, sea otters are seen by many marine biologists as having positive impacts on kelp forests.
by Justin Catanoso
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/10/booming-sea-otters-and-fading-shellfish-spark-values-clash-in-alaska/
