SEA LIFE BIRMINGHAM HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINE ANIMALS IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

As the world’s leaders continue to discuss ongoing actions to fight climate change at the COP26 conference this fortnight, SEA LIFE Birmingham has shared vital information of the importance marine life has with regards to the future of our planet.

Specifically, the UK’s first ever sea otters, Ozzy and Ola who are true heroes in the fight against climate change. The cuddly pair made the news earlier in the year for their psychic powers of prediction at EURO 2020 and now SEA LIFE Birmingham are highlighting just how important sea otters, like Ozzy and Ola, are in helping to fight climate change!

Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning that they’re critical to the survival of the other species in the ecosystem. Known as keepers of the kelp forest sea otters feed on sea urchins, keeping the invertebrate’s population low which enables kelp forests to thrive.

Thriving kelp forests along with marine vegetation absorb an estimated 20 times more carbon dioxide per acre than forests on land, making them an extremely powerful force in mitigating the effects of climate change. Without sea otters, urchin populations would explode and subsequently, take over and eat entire kelp forests.

The biggest threats to the sea otter’s population is pollution, mainly from oil which filters into the sea which significantly impacts the fluffy creature’s ability to keep warm in the icy water. Their lack of blubber, like other marine animals, means they rely on their unique coat, if this is dirty and oil logged, they cannot stay warm resulting in a severely decreased chance of survival.

To avoid incidents like this, our continued reliance on fossil fuels needs to change in order to maintain the number of sea otters and other keystone species throughout our oceans.

SEA LIFE works tirelessly in these conservation efforts. In the case of SEA LIFE Birmingham’s Ozzy and Ola, the pair had been found injured in the wild to the extent they were unable to be returned to their natural habitat.

The duo is the perfect example of human impact on marine life, demonstrating the need to reduce CO2 emissions, increase safer fishing protocols and limit plastic pollution in our oceans.

Jonny Rudd, Curator at SEA LIFE Birmingham, said: “At SEA LIFE, we are so proud of the conservation efforts carried out across our oceans to combat climate change. On a much smaller scale, we are delighted to home the UK’s first ever sea otters, Ola and Ozzy, who help us educate audiences on these issues.

“Sea otters, just like other marine creatures, are vital in the fight against climate change and therefore it is so important we do more to raise awareness of these concerns. If we look after sea otters they will look after the kelp forests which in turn reduce the carbon in out atmosphere.

Ozzy and Ola are such a joy to have at SEA LIFE Birmingham and we love seeing so many happy faces visiting them day in day out – it’s horrendous to think of the damaging impact human life is having on these beautiful creatures.”