Bandon Event Lets You 'Eat Like an Otter' on South Oregon Coast

Published 08/07/25 at 6:25 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Bandon, Oregon) - Bandon will soon give you an opportunity to really dive in on local seafood.

A unique blend of culinary adventure and coastal ecology is coming to the southern Oregon coast on Tuesday, August 13. The event, titled “Eat Like an Otter,” invites participants to explore the region’s edible shoreline while learning about the vital role sea otters play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. (Above: courtesy photo. Alanna Kieffer of Shifting Tides is one of the educators running the event)

Running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the immersive experience will take place across Bandon’s beaches and the Port of Bandon. Organized by the Elakha Alliance - an organization working to reintroduce sea otters to Oregon’s coast - and Shifting Tides, a company specializing in coastal foraging education, the event offers a rare opportunity to connect food, habitat, and conservation. Cost is $175.

Part guided hike, part culinary showcase, “Eat Like an Otter” includes intertidal foraging, a visit to a sustainable aquaculture operation, and a shoreline cooking demonstration featuring local shellfish and seaweed. Attendees will learn about Oregon’s rocky shore ecology, the seasonality of mussel harvesting, and the impact of sea otters on kelp forest health.

Courtesy Shifting Tides

Participants will have the chance to harvest their own mussels (with a shellfish license) and observe a cooking demo on-site. The group will then tour a sea urchin and seaweed farm at the Port of Bandon, where they’ll learn how the absence of sea otters has led to a surge in purple urchin populations, which in turn is contributing to the decline of bull kelp forests. The farm raises urchins for the culinary market, feeding them Pacific Dulse, a locally farmed seaweed also used in gourmet dishes.

The day concludes with a shoreline tasting session, featuring freshly prepared mussels and urchins, along with other bites sourced from the coast. Ten percent of event proceeds will support the Elakha Alliance’s ongoing efforts to restore sea otters to Oregon waters.

Sea otters were once a common sight around the North Pacific, including along the Oregon coast. However, globally they were hunted down to just one percent of their population. One of the last in this area was reportedly hunted in the Depoe Bay area. While it's true that the population has rebounded in many areas, Oregon is not one of them. This keystone species has been missing here for over a century.

They are a needed part of the ecosystem. Sea otters feed on sea urchins, which in turn supports the growth of kelp forests. These are critical habitats for countless marine species and a foundation for coastal economies.

“Eat Like an Otter” offers a hands-on way to experience the connection between food, habitat, and conservation, while supporting efforts to bring balance back to Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. See more at the link

Sign up to attend at this link.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Getting Oregon Coast Stays on the 'Lowdown' - Where Lincoln City Cut Rates
Excellent Lincoln City specials abound. Lincoln City hotel reviews. Inn at Wecoma, Surfland, Coho Lodge

From Taking In Cool Oregon Coast Colors on the Patio to Seaside's Action
Review of Seaside's Seashore Inn on the Beach: spectacle with breakfast and your dog. Seaside hotel reviews

Old Oregon Coast Vibe in Full 'Swing' at Lincoln City Beach Cabin
The Nantucket also features a hot tub and ocean views. Lincoln City hotel reviews, Lincoln City events, Lincoln City vacation rentals

Capping Either End of Cannon Beach: Two Different Charmers of the N. Oregon C...
Like a pair of bookends, two of its more engaging places to stay cap either end. Cannon Beach hotel reviews, Schooner's Cove Inn, the Wayside Inn, Seaside hotel reviews

Photos below of Band courtesy Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted