This May, the Elakha Alliance and La Petite Tattoo are joining forces for a creative conservation fundraiser that blends art, community, and ocean advocacy.

Throughout the month of May, participating artists at La Petite Tattoo will be offering special ocean-themed flash tattoos, with 30% of sales donated directly to the Elakha Alliance’s mission to restore sea otters back to the Oregon coast.

From playful sea otters and flowing kelp forests to marine-inspired designs celebrating the beauty of our oceans, every tattoo tells a story – and helps support the revitalization of Oregon’s coastal ecosystems.

The collaboration also coincides with World Otter Day on May 27th, an international day dedicated to celebrating otters and raising awareness about their importance in aquatic ecosystems around the globe.

Sea otters once thrived along the Oregon coast but were hunted to local extinction during the maritime fur trade in the 1700s and 1800s. Today, the Elakha Alliance is working to help bring them back because sea otters are far more than charismatic marine mammals – they are a keystone species that help maintain healthy and resilient marine ecosystems.

By preying on sea urchins and crabs, sea otters help protect kelp forests and eelgrass estuaries, habitats that support biodiversity, fisheries, carbon storage, and coastal resilience. Their return could create ripple effects throughout Oregon’s nearshore environment, benefiting both marine wildlife and coastal communities.

This fundraiser is an opportunity for people to express their love for the ocean in a permanent and meaningful way while directly contributing to marine conservation efforts here in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you’re passionate about sea otters, ocean health, tattoos, or simply supporting local artists and nonprofits, Ink for Otters is a chance to make an impact – one tattoo at a time.

To participate, book an appointment with one of the participating artists at La Petite Tattoo during the month of May and choose from their ocean-inspired flash designs. Every piece helps support the future of Oregon’s coastal ecosystems.

Together, through art and conservation, we can help create a healthier ocean for generations to come.