Elakha Alliance

The Elakha Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Oregon, founded by tribal leaders, conservationists, and nonprofit advocates united by a powerful vision: an Oregon coast where future generations thrive alongside a restored sea otter population and a resilient marine ecosystem.

(https://www.elakhaalliance.org/about-us/our-leadership/)Our Mission: To make Oregon’s marine and coastal ecosystems and communities more robust and resilient by restoring a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon coast.

Sea otters, as a keystone species, are essential for maintaining the health and diversity of both kelp forests and estuarine marine ecosystems. In estuaries, they help regulate species like invasive crabs, preserving balance and promoting biodiversity. By controlling sea urchin populations in kelp forests, they prevent these vital habitats from becoming barren, ensuring a thriving marine ecosystem.

Sea otters hold deep cultural significance for Oregon’s coastal tribes, a legacy disrupted by their elimination during the 19th-century fur trade. It’s time to right this historical wrong and honor their place in tribal heritage.