As Kelp Forests Again Reach for the Ocean Surface in Santa Monica Bay, Life Follows.

The difference is like night and day. What was once a barren underwater landscape of reef overrun by millions of urchins is now a kelp forest teeming with life. Anchored to the sea floor, long stalks of kelp tower in the water, their giant fronds bouncing with the current. Schools of fish flit through the… Continue reading As Kelp Forests Again Reach for the Ocean Surface in Santa Monica Bay, Life Follows.

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A Taste of the Sea: Nature Documentary ‘The Delicacy’ Dives Into Humankind’s Obsession with Sea Urchin Uni

Have you ever gone to a sushi restaurant and wondered what is “uni”? …Civilizations as ancient as Rome have indulged in these gourmet gonads, but despite modern technologies, fishing for sea urchins remains far from easy or automated. Jason Wise, founder of the online streaming service SOMM TV, documents the lives of hardworking Santa Barbara… Continue reading A Taste of the Sea: Nature Documentary ‘The Delicacy’ Dives Into Humankind’s Obsession with Sea Urchin Uni

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Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project Begins Again This Week

A project to restore reefs and marine animals off the Palos Verdes Peninsula Coast resumes this week and is expected to be finished in September. A large barge and crane will be seen off Rancho Palos Verdes, near Trump National Golf Course, when work resumes on the Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project on Thursday, Aug.… Continue reading Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project Begins Again This Week

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Can the Forests of the World’s Oceans Contribute to Alleviating the Climate Crisis?

Sixty years ago, Tasmania’s coastline was cushioned by a velvety forest of kelp so dense it would ensnare local fishers as they headed out in their boats. “We speak especially to the older generation of fishers, and they say, ‘When I was your age, this bay was so thick with kelp, we actually had to cut… Continue reading Can the Forests of the World’s Oceans Contribute to Alleviating the Climate Crisis?

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California’s Critical Kelp Forests are Disappearing in a Warming World. Can They Be Saved?

Kelp need our help. Which is why an unprecedented alliance of scientists, fishers, surfers, entrepreneurs, and experts is coming together to revive California’s vital kelp ecosystem, decimated by a warming ocean. “The California coast without kelp is like the Amazon without trees,” says Tom Ford, executive director of the Bay Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring… Continue reading California’s Critical Kelp Forests are Disappearing in a Warming World. Can They Be Saved?

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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.)

Explosion of Oregon’s Purple Sea Urchin Population

Populations of purple sea urchin have exploded up and down the West Coast, decimating kelp and crowding out other marine animals. In a recent count of one Oregon reef, the population of purple urchins was 350 million, an increase of 10,000 percent over the last five years. Shellfish biologist Scott Groth with the Oregon Department… Continue reading Explosion of Oregon’s Purple Sea Urchin Population

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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.