In September 2019, the Alliance’s board of directors adopted a Strategic Plan following a process that involved conversations with dozens of stakeholders representing tribal, government, fishing, nonprofit, and other perspectives. The Strategic Plan has been most recently updated in March of 2021 after additional input from stakeholders, and here is a 3-page summary.
Strategic Initiatives
Initiative 1: Complete scientific assessment and public policy analysis necessary to determine the feasibility and impacts of restoring and protecting a healthy sea otter population in Oregon.
Initiative 2: Build regional consensus that a restored, healthy Oregon sea otter population is an important goal worth pursuing.
Initiative 3: Complete a restoration of a viable, sustaining population of sea otters to a few suitable places on the Oregon coast.
The Timeline
- Strategic initiatives #1 (Assessment & Analysis) and #2 (Regional Consensus) are underway and running concurrently. As of Spring 2021, the Alliance expects that successful completion of these Initiatives will be achieved no earlier than the end of 2024 and no later than the end of 2027.
- If and when Strategic Initiatives #1 and #2 are successfully completed, Strategic Initiative #3 (Restoration) will be launched as soon as possible thereafter. Strategic Initiative #3 is expected to take anywhere from 2-4 additional years before the actual restoration commences, followed by ongoing monitoring, research, and continued stakeholder engagement.
Core Strategies
Community engagement: To reach good decisions about sea otter restoration, the public must be part of the process, especially those groups and individuals most likely affected. This includes tribes, shellfish harvesters, fishermen, ports, businesses, conservation organizations, and local, state, and federal governments.
Partnerships: Key pieces of the work needed will be accomplished by other entities that share the Alliance’s Vision and have the appropriate resources, skills, and/or legal authority. A key goal in the Alliance strategic plan is to forge partnerships.
Podcast: Listen to Board President Robert Bailey discuss otter restoration and the Elakha Alliance’s plan!