Sea otters can be used as a looking glass into the overall ecosystem due to their foraging habits. Sea otters sample benthic invertebrates at a higher rate and with better skill than people can attain with SCUBA surveys . This study provides quantitative data that can inform an ecosystem-based management approach that also considers local subsistence harvest needs and stakeholder input. However, for a more comprehensive understanding of the sea otter population in Southeast Alaska, abundance surveys of both sea otters and invertebrates need to be conducted more frequently. If used in conjunction with more comprehensive abundance surveys, the quantitative results presented here regarding sex and location-specific diet composition can be used to predict current and future sea otter ecosystem effects, thus informing co-management plans for this apex predator in addition to commercially-important and subsistence foods.