The Impacts of Industrialization on Sea Otters

Industrialization has had and still has negative impacts on the Sea Otter population. It fell from 300,000 members to an estimation of 2,000 members in the 1740s. It was caused by hunting for their fur which was extremely popular. Even if hunting sea otters is now banned in a lot of coastal countries, the population recovery is difficult. Human activity affects those marine mammals in different ways: poaching, oil spills, habitat destruction, food limitation... Industrialization has lead to that. It has made everybody dependent on the economy. As a result, it has produced pollution and has changed the way humans consider the environment. However, sea otters are protected by many laws of coastline countries, reintroduction programs and established reserves to protect this species from extinction. Like every species, sea otters are essential to the balance of the ecosystem. They control the number of sea urchins in the ocean, which contributes to preserving kelp forests. Kelp forests provide nutriments to the marine ecosystem and are eaten by sea urchins. Every living being is essential to the balance of the ecosystem.