Once containing more than half of the world’s sea otters, this population segment, which ranges from Kodiak Island through the western Aleutian Islands, has undergone an overall population decline of at least 55–67 percent since the mid-1980s. They open the shells of some of their prey, with stones and a piece of wood. Sea otters eat sea urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and other 40 marine species. Years later, conservationists moved some remaining otters from Big Sur to Central California. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal species. Sea Otter Conservation. The Basics. In most of its range, the sea otter's diet consists almost exclusively of marine benthic invertebrates, including sea urchins, fat innkeeper worms, a variety of bivalves such as clams and mussels, abalone, other mollusks, crustaceans, and snails. Population. California’s southern sea otter has been listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1977. Gradually, their numbers grew, sea urchin numbers declined, and the kelp began to grow again. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal living near the shores of the North Pacific, from northern Japan, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka east across the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast to Mexico.It has the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. As predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the near-shore kelp ecosystems. Sea otter numbers have declined in southwestern Alaska over the past 20 years. In particular, they play a vital role in preserving the kelp forests. 41 years later and counting, their conservation status remains unchanged and their future uncertain. As the underwater forests grew, other species reappeared. Sea otters consume over 100 prey species. 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