Otters freed from oppression 12/18/12 10:30p.m. TDH

Local environmental groups are applauding the federal government’s decision to eliminate a restriction on otter movements in a part of southern California waters.    Organizations including the monterey bay aquarium and “the friends of the sea otter,” had criticized the so-called “no otter zone,” which was designed to create a new population on 1 of the channel islands through a “translocation program.”  But the program failed, and the otters were unable to fully return to their natural habitat.   The elimination of the restrictions means that the otters can now move farther away from the island.