The two best descriptions of otter issues I have run into in the last few years are a TV show and a newspaper article.
Here is a long article written after a
series of interviews with a sea otter hunter, which seems to cover every side of the issue.
The description of the life of a subsistence hunter in those waters is accurate. As far as I remember, it is not not overly embellished or downplayed, with maybe a single exception. The extreme poverty is perhaps sharper and uglier than depicted here. It changes the way you think in lasting ways. An example: the worry about fuel. When you are in a remote location, the anxiety about having enough gasoline to power your small, old outboard motor gnaws at you like a physical hunger.
You can see the entire lifecycle of sea otters and get a fairly good picture of how a community of otters works by watching the incomparable PBS production
Saving Otter 501. If you aspire to do marine biology, this nature documentary can serve as a platinum example of how to do research at the highest level, document it, and then share the results in a way that is not condescending or Disney-fied. (Also on YouTube and Netflix)
Both pieces are equally well-researched, and will probably leave you with strong feelings on the subject.
I am curious to hear opinions from anyone, and from any point of view, as a reply or PM.