July 23, 2005. The Asian Short Toed Otter in Durham, United Kingdom. The UK has a very aggressive Marine Biology monitoriing program. These otters live in captivity but the marine life in and around the UK are some of the best known including the diseases that plague them. The United Kingdom is surrounded by water and they have never to my knowledge sought to destroy their maine life so much as endeared them seeking knowledge about them. There is a difference and a civility about a culture that sees itself as 'fitting into nature' rather than dominating it. I do not approve of the UK's policy regarding oil and the North Sea however. They need to discern their true love of the sea that is their heritage and their learned greed from companies who exploit their needs. Alternatives are a far better choice and in protecting it's marine life, Scotland has established wind farms at sea. I applaud them. Carbon extraction is morally wrong in the world we have challenged to support all that live on it.