Sea otters returned to Canada and saved kelp, but now threaten a local delicacy

The reintroduction and success of sea otters in British Columbia was a story that initially satisfied everyone including conservationists and the natives. The adorable creatures once occupied much of Canada's Pacific coast, before the fur trade for their exceptionally dense coats turned into a mass death sentence. But now, their population is threatening the availability of a local dish that most around the coast love, according to a report by AS.Hunting of sea otters led to their disappearance from British Columbia by 1929. Years later, between 1969 and 1972, 89 otters were flown south from Alaska and released into Checleset Bay, off Vancouver Island. While the newcomers struggled to settle down initially, their population dropped to around 70 by 1977. After that, however, the recovery gathered remarkable speed.