Topic: Kelp

The planet’s other forest crisis

LA Times: The decline of California’s kelp forests since the marine heat wave of 2013-17 has seen only minor recovery despite heroic efforts at restoration carried out by scientists, fishermen, coastal tribes, volunteer divers and conservationists. Nor is the threat to kelp localized. Rather the loss, like the expansion of mega-wildfires on land from Los Angeles… Continue reading The planet’s other forest crisis

Underwater Forests Return to Life off the Coast of California, and That Might be Good News for the Entire Planet

Smithsonian Magazine: Underwater Forests Return to Life off the Coast of California, and That Might be Good News for the Entire Planet. Wondrous kelp beds harbor a complex ecosystem that’s teeming with life, cleaning the water and the atmosphere, and bringing new hope for the future… Off the coast of Palos Verdes, a famed surfing… Continue reading Underwater Forests Return to Life off the Coast of California, and That Might be Good News for the Entire Planet

6 million sea urchins removed by volunteer divers saved California kelp forest

The Valley Vanguard: For more than a decade, volunteer divers have been quietly wielding hammers off the coast of Santa Monica, California — not to build reefs, but to knock apart an ecological problem that nearly erased the region’s kelp forests. What began as a small, persistent effort by the Bay Foundation has turned into… Continue reading 6 million sea urchins removed by volunteer divers saved California kelp forest

Post-Blob, California’s kelp crisis isn’t going away

Mongabay – FORT BRAGG, U.S. — In 2024, I was scuba diving in Northern California’s Casper Cove where the Watermen’s Alliance, a group of ex-abalone sports divers, has been culling purple urchins since 2020. It had been six years since abalone season shut down, following the region’s kelp forest collapse. About 4 meters (13 feet)… Continue reading Post-Blob, California’s kelp crisis isn’t going away

Kelp Restoration Project to Pluck Purple Urchins from Santa Barbara Channel

SB Independent: New Pilot Project Will Sell Problematic Purples to Restaurants or Turn Them into Agricultural Products. For the two-year initiative, the CFSB is also partnering with The Nature Conservancy California, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), and The Bay Foundation, and efforts will be funded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt.