Sea Otters to Kelp Regeneration

Sea otters are a keystone species whose presence promotes recovery and stability of kelp, seagrass, fish stocks, and salt marsh ecosystems.

By improving these vegetated ecosystems, sea otters can indirectly enhance carbon storage and nutrient cycling, improve fish habitat, and increase biodiversity. Additionally, given the public's love of sea otters, they boost local economies through nature-based tourism.

This project greatly benefits from the fact that sea otters are one of the most studied and data-rich species. Partnering with Dr. Brent Hughes, coastal ecology and conservation expert, along with expert modelers, BGF utilizes science to pioneer a new methodology to quantify and finance sea otter-driven ecosystem services, unlocking natural capital markets to fund the recovery of otters and coastal ecology.

This framework will enable grants, sponsors, and market-based finance mechanisms to support marine protected areas (MPAs), restore coastal ecosystems, mitigate threats, and restore and protect sea otter populations.

Scientific Collaboration

Developed in partnership with Dr. Brent Hughes and leading marine ecologists, this methodology draws from decades of peer-reviewed research and modeling expertise to quantify the cascading ecological and carbon impacts of sea otter recovery.

Outcome

• Quantifies ecosystem services and carbon benefits from sea otter recovery
• Supports restoration of kelp, seagrass, and salt marsh ecosystems
• Unlocks market-based finance for marine protected areas
• Enables blue carbon credit methodologies linked to keystone species
• Promotes nature-based tourism and local economic resilience

If you're interested in supporting the development of this methodology, please contact +Nature.