Stedman explains need for sea otter bounty

Here's a sponsor statement from Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, on his sea otter control bill.

Senate Bill 60 would have the state pay Alaska Natives a $100 bounty for every sea otter taken lawfully under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Stedman says the fast-growing population of voracious sea otters threatens the future of dive and crab fisheries in Southeast Alaska, jeopardizing hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in economic activity.

The bill is up for a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Senate Resources Committee.

A hundred bucks a hide!

State Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, has introduced a bill to authorize the Department of Fish and Game to pay a $100 bounty for each sea otter taken lawfully under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Now why would anyone want to kill our cute and furry friends the sea otters?

Because they're rapidly recolonizing Southeast Alaska waters, consuming mass quantities of commercially harvested species such as Dungeness crab, urchins, clams and sea cucumbers.

McDowell Group, a Juneau consulting firm, in 2011 issued a study on the problem.