Sea Otter Foundation & Trust

One of the most important concepts to understand in sea otter conservation is that they are both a keystone species for their coastal habitats as well as an indicator species for the condition of the ocean. Because they feed on many organisms that are filter feeders, i.e. clams and other bivalves, sea otters can give an early indication of the pollution levels within the ocean. Therefore, they provide early warning signs of potential issues with our own food sources, such as pollutants in seafood sources that can affect people throughout the nation as well as internationally.