Status Review: Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) Population Status and Trend

The sea otter population information usually present is primarily based on counts of relative abundance with the exception of a few areas in Alaska where survey specific correction factors are determined and applied to the total count. Because of the vagaries of survey methods, survey platforms (shore-based, ship-based, and land-based sea otter counts), and habitat types, it would be inappropriate to combine all surveys over time into a global trend. Therefore it is relevant to discuss specific regions that have applied similar methods to the surveys for sea otters over time.