FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2015

Contact: Courtney Sexton, csexton@defenders.org; 202-772-0253

California Sea Otter Fund Renewed for Five More Years!
Governor Brown signs bill to fund protection of imperiled otters

SACRAMENTO— Today Governor Brown signed a bill into law that will renew the California Sea Otter Fund for the next five years. The fund is critical to research, recovery and protection of threatened California Sea Otters, and was set to expire in December 2015. Senator Bill Monning authored, and Defenders of Wildlife and Friends of the Sea Otter sponsored, the bill to renew the fund. Since 2007 the California income tax form has included the option for Californians to voluntarily contribute to the fund, resulting in over $2 million raised to protect sea otters.

The following is a statement from Kim Delfino, Director of California Programs, Defenders of Wildlife:

“The California Sea Otter Fund is a critical provider of resources for the protection of our state’s threatened sea otter population and we are so grateful that Governor Brown has renewed the fund for another five years.

“Californians care about the imperiled wildlife in our state and the Sea Otter Fund is an incredible way for residents to play a role in helping recover sea otters. The fund makes possible the vital research, outreach and education on sea otter health and threats that we hope will ultimately lead to their recovery.”

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

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