Reviving California’s Kelp Forests, One Dive at a Time

Scientists and volunteers are working to revive California's kelp forests by hauling up urchins that have been overgrazing the remaining kelp. A decade ago, more than 90% of the state's kelp forests were destroyed due to freakishly warm ocean water, leading to a decline in sea creatures such as abalones and sunflower sea stars. Today, efforts are bearing early fruit, with kelp cover increasing by 10 times its lowest point in 2023 at Portuguese Beach. Similar efforts are underway at Caspar Cove, where recreational divers are smashing urchins to protect the kelp. The Nature Conservancy is also planting kelp seedlings and using drone surveys to monitor growth. By nurturing these oases of recovery, scientists hope to eventually reseed more of the coast with healthy kelp forests.

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