Once abundant across the North Pacific, sea otters were aggressively hunted during the maritime fur trade for their rich fur pelts, resulting in a loss of 99% of the global population. While the species has recovered along much of its range, there has not been a population of this important keystone species in Oregon for over 100 years. The Elakha Alliance is an Oregon nonprofit working to build the science, policy, and community engagement to reintroduce a population of sea otters to the Oregon Coast and 10% of sales from this event will go to their ongoing efforts to bring sea otters back to Oregon!
We will be channeling our inner sea otter as we embark on a guided intertidal adventure to see and learn about the wild food sources on our coast. Learn about the intertidal ecology of Oregon’s mud flats, and the sustainability and seasonality of clamming along our coast. Attendees will get to harvest their own clams (with purchase of a shellfish license) and see a cleaning demonstration!
Next, we’ll head to the Historic Boathouse in Garibaldi, for a talk on sea otter reintroduction from the Elakha Alliance.
Known locally as “Pier’s End,” this site offers a venue experience unlike any other, situated at the terminus of a 700-foot-long wooden pier extending directly over the waters of Tillamook Bay. Built in 1936, the boathouse served as a critical rescue station for the North Coast for over 30 years. Today, the structure stands as a testament to Pacific Northwest maritime history, and educational programs are run by the Garibaldi Cultural Heritage Initiative.
We’ll wrap up the day with a thoughtfully prepared shoreline cooking and shucking demo of mussels, and some tasty bites featuring freshly harvested shellfish and seaweed, highlighting the delicious diversity of foods that otters and coastal communities love. Whether you’re a curious foodie or a nature lover, this is a celebration of ocean stewardship, sustainability, and unforgettable coastal cuisine.
Sign up at ShiftingTidesNW.com/workshops/Eatlikeanotter
