Overpopulation of purple sea urchins (strongylocentrotus purpuratus) has caused “urchin barrens” impacting red sea urchin (mesocentrotus franciscanus) gonad production, a high-value sushi product important to fisheries. Destructive purple sea urchin grazing is also the leading cause of kelp deforestation in the world and has multi-trophic level impacts on species’ use of kelp forest habitat resources. Kelp restoration… Continue reading Urchin Gonad Response to Kelp Forest Restoration on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, California
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PODCAST: Helping the Kelp Make a Comeback
Kelp forests, the base of marine life on the Pacific Coast, including the seafood we eat, are disappearing. The Bay Foundation’s hands-on restoration effort might be the answer. Interview with Executive Director Tom Ford. (6 min.)
What Even Is Local Seafood?
The waters off Southern California are rich with marine life. As part of his effort to serve the freshest seafood possible, much of what [Chef Michael] Cimarusti offers at Providence is sourced from the Pacific. “There are so many amazing ingredients that are being harvested right here,” he says. But for most consumers, it’s not… Continue reading What Even Is Local Seafood?
These Purple Creatures are Eating All Our Kelp. It’s Time to Eat Them.
There are underwater forests spanning millions of acres — but they’re rapidly dying due to climate change and an unlikely predator. Kelp forests, which are often referred to as the rainforests of the sea, play an important role in fighting climate change. Kelp, which is a type of macroalgae, is estimated to sequester 634 metric tons of… Continue reading These Purple Creatures are Eating All Our Kelp. It’s Time to Eat Them.
PODCAST: Legalizing the Other Weed (Kelp)
In Episode 81, Quinn & Brian discuss: Legalizing the weed of the sea. Our guests are Bren Smith and Tom Ford, two fine, clean-living gentleman who are out on the water, every day, trying to change the way that we eat and use the ocean to our benefit — and, more importantly, to the ocean’s… Continue reading PODCAST: Legalizing the Other Weed (Kelp)
The Bay Foundation Director Tom Ford Advocates for National Estuary Program Funding
Facing persistent threats to federal funding, leaders of National Estuary Programs (NEPs) across the US were invited to speak before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water, Resources, and the Environment to highlight the incredible success and leveraging power that US EPA funding brings to coastal communities and ecosystems. With the mission to protect… Continue reading The Bay Foundation Director Tom Ford Advocates for National Estuary Program Funding
The Dunes Are Alive Along the Santa Monica Coast
We covered a lot of ground during our recent special series on climate change, including the grim fate of our beaches. As our science reporter Jacob Margolis put it: based on the latest research, the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu could be unrecognizable by the end of the century. One of the ways the city of Santa Monica has been working to… Continue reading The Dunes Are Alive Along the Santa Monica Coast
2013 Malibu Lagoon Restoration Declared a Success
From 2012-13, the 31-acre Malibu Lagoon underwent a nine-month-long restoration process initiated by California State Parks. Twelve acres of wetland near the mouth of Malibu Creek were drained, wildlife was trapped and relocated, heavy equipment scooped out a thousand tons of trash and fill, channels and bridges were removed, banks were reshaped and native vegetation… Continue reading 2013 Malibu Lagoon Restoration Declared a Success
Free Mobile Pumpout Service for Boaters through Sept. 30, Honey Pot Day Program Helps Keep Local Waters Clean
The Bay Foundation’s (TBF) Boater Education Program’s Honey Pot Day returns for boating season, educating Southern California recreational boaters about proper sewage waste disposal and offering participants one free mobile pumpout service. In its 11th consecutive year, Honey Pot Day is provided from June 1 – September 30, 2019, in four Southern California harbors: Marina… Continue reading Free Mobile Pumpout Service for Boaters through Sept. 30, Honey Pot Day Program Helps Keep Local Waters Clean
‘Re-wilding’ a Santa Monica Beach to Protect Against Sea Level Rise
At the north end of Santa Monica Beach, there’s a fenced off 2-acre section that looks a bit unkempt. It’s an experiment in “re-wilding,” or restoring the beach to what it looked like before humans altered it. The pilot project, a partnership of The Bay Foundation and Santa Monica, could also help protect the city… Continue reading ‘Re-wilding’ a Santa Monica Beach to Protect Against Sea Level Rise