US Representative Jared Huffman and Senator Jeff Merkley have introduced a law to help protect kelp forests. Through the Help our Kelp act federal resources will be invested to help kelp forest ecosystems, in particular those in Oregon and northern California. Up to five million dollars a year are available as grants open to Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, tribal organizations, academic researchers, fishing industry, nonprofits, state agencies, and local government.

Once again we are talking about seaweed on the pages of Daily Nautica after the recent article sharing new important discoveries about their DNA, dating their presence on our planet back to around 500 million years ago. In the US, kelp forests grow predominantly on the Pacific Coast, from Alaska and Canada to the waters of Baja California. Like an underwater rainforest, kelp forest ecosystems provide food and habitat for

hundreds of species of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals.  Coastal communities also depend on healthy kelp forest ecosystems to protect coastlines and support sustainable fisheries.

Kelp generate a potential value of around 500 billion dollars a year worldwide across three key ecosystem services: fisheries production, nutrient cycling, and carbon removal. However, over the last 50 years, climate change, poor water quality and overfishing have damaged 40% to 60% of kelp forests. At the same time, there have been higher ocean temperatures and storms in recent years, in addition to the boom in purple sea urchins, who are voracious kelp eaters, caused by a decline in their natural predators. While the climate change continues , poor water quality and overfishing have led to a devastating decline in kelp forests.

The Help Our Kelp Act 2025 would “ Establish a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant program to fund conservation, restoration, and management efforts, and focus on addressing the greatest relative regional declines, long term ecological or socioeconomic resilience, or are in focal recovery areas identified by Tribal, federal, or state management plans.”

“Healthy kelp forests – said Representative Jared Huffman –  play an important role in marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, and coastal communities.  While we are still seeing a decline in these ecosystems caused by climate change, it is important that Congress intervene to help combat this problem in our oceans. Through this law we can take an important step forward in improving and restoring ideal conditions for the kelp and other marine life before it is too late.”

“Oregon’s kelp forests provide critical habitats and food sources for marine mammals, birds, and many fish species that drive Oregon’s commercial fishing industry and coastal community economies,” said Senator Jeff Merkley.  As healthy kelp forests are rapidly dwindling, these marine mammals, birds, and fish are losing their habitats, throwing off entire ecosystems and sending economies into uncharted waters. The Help Our Kelp Act is an important step to ensure that our iconic Maine fisheries, and surrounding communities, are able to serve as a habitat for marine life well into the future.”

Photo source: Wikipedia

By Paolo Ponga