Oiled Sea Otter Response Sample Clauses

Oiled Sea Otter Response. ‌ Sea otters can be found scattered along the outer coast of Washington and into the Strait of Xxxx xx Xxxx. Any oil spill that reaches the near-shore environment may impact sea otters. Early reconnaissance of potentially impacted sea otters should be completed as soon as possible. Unlike most marine mammals that possess a thick layer of insulating blubber, sea otters are highly vulnerable to oil because they depend on their fur for insulation. When sea otter fur becomes oiled, there is an immediate loss of thermal protection. Success of sea otter response will depend largely on the ability to quickly implement the response actions outlined in this plan. Sea otters fall under the jurisdiction of USFWS, are listed as endangered on Washington’s Species of Concern List, and are protected by the MMPA. Wildlife Branch recommendations to implement sea otter response actions will be fully coordinated with USFWS and WDFW. Oiled sea otter capture and rehabilitation is very difficult and requires specialized staff and equipment. Due to the potentially dangerous environments where otters live, safety of the responders is of paramount concern. Only trained and experienced personnel will be utilized in capture of sea otters. An incident- specific health and safety plan may be required for capture and transport of sea otters, which will be coordinated with the incident Safety Officer and included in the IAP Site Safety Plan. Preemptive capture of sea otters before they become oiled may be an option. However, it is unlikely that it will be utilized as a response option in the Pacific Northwest due to the logistics involved, the dangers to the animals themselves during the capture, and the dangers to personnel involved with capture efforts. The outer coast of Washington is remote, logistically challenging, and not an ideal location to attempt the capture of healthy sea otters. Oiled sea otters will be located and recovered by reconnaissance and capture teams and transported as quickly as possible, preferably by air, to a primary treatment facility. Once the animals are waterproof and in good condition, they will be transferred to a pre-release facility, where they will remain until USFWS determines when and where they can be released. As there is not currently a dedicated primary treatment facility for oiled otters, their rehabilitation is heavily dependent on the assistance of northwest aquaria. Specific protocols that will be followed when dealing with oiled sea otter c...