Ocean+Shore+Conservation

Khyatee D. and Sarina R. Conservation page  **Southern Sea Otter (Negative)** The threatened Southern Sea Otter lives in shallow water along the Pacific coast of the U.S. For centuries, they were hunted for food and fur during the fur trade. Large-scale hunting, which would eventually kill approximately one million sea otters, began in the 1700s when hunters and traders began to arrive from all over the world to meet foreign demand for otter pelts, which were one of the world's most valuable types of fur. During the 20th century, sea otter numbers rebounded in about two-thirds of their historic range, a recovery that is considered one of the greatest successes in marine conservation.However, the IUCN lists the sea otter as an endangered species, and describes the significant threats to sea otters as oil pollution, predation by orcas, poaching, and conflicts with fisheries – sea otters can drown if entangled in fishing gear. The hunting of sea otters is no longer legal except for limited harvests by indigenous peoples in the United States.

African black rhinos have been endangered by humans because they were hunted for their horns. They used to populate all over Africa but now populations are decreasing and they are endangered. Around 1900 there were probably several hundred thousand living in Africa. During the later half of the 20th century their number severely reduced from an estimated 70,000 in the late 1960s to only 10,000 to 15,000 in 1981. In the early 1990s the number dipped below 2500, and in 2004 it was reported that only 2,410 black rhinos remained. To resolve this problem, these rhinos can be given preservations to reproduce without danger of hunters.
 * African Black Rhino (Negative)**

In the 1920s and 1930s, eelgrass beds along the Atlantic coast were severely reduced due to a "Wasting disease." The reduce of eelgrass was a major natural catastrophe. Now, by restoring eelgrass habitats to the shores, bioligists hope to preserve the shellfish populations that depend on eelgrass for their shelter.
 * Eelgrass (Conservation) **

In the past, Florida manatees in shallow waters have suffered many boat collision injuries.Conservation biologists are working to protect the Florida manatee by reducing pollution, and encouraging boaters to obey the speed limits. Rescued manatees are transfered to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio.
 * Manatee (Conservation)**

**Brown Pelicans (Positive)** Brown Pelicans were endangered by pesticides like DDT and dieldrin threatened its future in the southeast United States and California in the early 1970s. Pesticides also threatened the pelican population in Florida in this period. Humans have now transfered these Brown Pelicans from Florida to Louisiana.

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