SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember Dave Jones (D – Sacramento) and Assemblymember John Laird (D- Santa Cruz) announced today that legislation to help save California’s sea otters was approved by both houses of the legislature and is headed to the Governor’s desk.

Despite being on the federal endangered species list and a fully protected marine mammal in the State of California, the size of the sea otter population has stagnated in the last ten years. In fact, their numbers are so low that one large oil spill could wipe out the entire species.

AB 2485 takes multiple steps to protect the sea otter and to enable research that will help them thrive along California’s coastline.

Dr. Patricia Conrad, UC Davis Professor of Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, says, “The sea otters are more than just cute, furry animals. They are sentinels letting us know that things are going seriously awry in the marine ecosystem.”

“Sea otters are a vital part of California’s rich coastal marine life,” said Assemblymember Jones. “Last summer on a family trip to the Monterey Aquarium, I learned that the number of sea otters was dropping. Since then researchers and environmentalists have provided me with a more complete picture of the plight of the sea otters. AB 2485 takes some important steps toward saving California’s sea otters.”

“Sea otters are an icon of coastal California and the Monterey Bay, and a key indicator of the health of our coastal waters,” said Assemblymember Laird. “Passage of this bill continues the fight to strengthen protections for sea otters—and our oceans.”

AB 2485 received bipartisan votes and strong support including Monterey Bay Aquarium, Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Otter Project, The Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Sea Otter, and the California Fish and Game Wardens’ Association.

The bill now heads to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk, where he has until September 30th to sign the bill into law or veto it.