Few days ago I sent an email to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer claiming for the protection of Southern Sea Otters. The email is available in the Monterey Bay Aquarium webpage in the take action site of Sea otters.

My email suggested by the Monterey Bay Aquarium was:

As a member of your State who cares deeply about the health of our oceans and its wildlife, I thank you for supporting S.1748: The Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act.

This bill would provide much-needed funding to promote the recovery of an iconic species — an animal that draws millions of visitors and tourist dollars to the coast of California and maintains the health and vitality of an entire ecosystem.

Sea otters play a major role in the coastal environment by controlling animals at the base of the food chain that would otherwise overrun nearshore habitats. Humans once hunted this species to near extinction, and its disappearance had profound impacts on kelp forests all along the California coast. 

Over the past 10 years, the southern sea otter has suffered high mortality from diseases, contaminants, food limitations and other factors. While scientists have determined some of the sources of these impacts, only an intensive program of new research will provide information for scientific and governmental experts to help the southern sea otter recover.

Thank you for your support of the Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act.

Today they wrote me back the email below.

Dear Dr. Vizcaino: 

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the "Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act "(H.R. 556/ S.1748).  I appreciate your correspondence, and welcome the opportunity to respond.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced S. 1748 on October 1, 2009. The companion bill, H.R. 556, passed the House of Representatives on July 28, 2009. This bill authorizes the appropriation of $5 million per year for fiscal years 2010 through 2015, for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey to carry out a research and recovery program for southern sea otters along the California coast.

S. 1748 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. I am a cosponsor of this bill and support its objectives. The companion bill, H.R. 556 was introduced by Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), and passed the House of Representatives July 28, 2009.

 Like you, I am concerned about reports indicating that sea otter numbers are declining in California. It is important to help the sea otter populations recover and support funding toward research efforts to determine the cause of the decline in the sea otter population.

Again, thank you for writing. I hope that you will continue to contact me about issues that are important to you. If you have any additional comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

 Sincerely yours,
 Dianne Feinstein
 United States Senator