The Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is announcing the launch of its newest wildlife initiative: The Sea Otter Fund. This initiative marks the WCN’s first marine fund, dedicated to supporting the reintroduction of sea otters along their historical U.S. Pacific Coast range. Since its inception in 2002, WCN’s donors have generously given more than $370 million to support wildlife conservation, and the Sea Otter Fund has already committed close to $1 million in new funding for grants, with a goal of helping raise $40 million over the next 12 years.
Once a thriving species with a population upwards of 300,000, sea otter numbers have drastically declined. Only around 3,000 remain in California, and there are none left in Oregon. Sea otters illustrate how a species harnesses the power of nature-based solutions to combat climate change, strengthen biodiversity, and support coastal resilience. By preying on sea urchins, they help protect and sustain kelp forests, which serve as crucial carbon sinks, provide habitat for marine life, and act as natural buffers against coastal erosion.
Despite their ecological importance, sea otters remain absent from a significant portion of their historical range due to past fur trade exploitation, habitat degradation, and ongoing environmental threats. Building on the important work from many others over decades, the Sea Otter Fund will serve as a unifying force, supporting the collaboration of NGOs, Tribes, scientists, government agencies, fisherman, and conservation leaders to develop and implement innovative solutions for sea otter restoration while supporting the priorities of coastal communities.
“The Sea Otter Fund represents an unprecedented opportunity to restore a keystone species and revitalize fragile marine ecosystems,” said Charles Knowles, President and Co-founder of the Wildlife Conservation Network. “By collaborating with leading experts and community stakeholders, we can drive meaningful conservation action that benefits both wildlife and people.”
The Sea Otter Fund follows the WCN’s successful Wildlife Fund model, where 100% of donations to the Sea Otter Fund will go directly to conservation efforts, ensuring that every contribution makes an immediate impact on sea otter restoration and the protection of coastal ecosystems. In addition to the successful conservation efforts of its California Wildlife Program, WCN’s six other Wildlife Funds have been instrumental in supporting the recovery of other threatened species, including elephants, lions, rhinos, pangolins, and painted dogs.
To learn more about the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Sea Otter Fund, visit seaotterfund.org for more information.
