Help the Kelp

Declining kelp forests are a serious environmental concern, and there are several ways to help address this issue.

Off California's North Coast, an underwater forest has all but vanished — a 95% collapse in bull kelp along 350 miles of coastline, gone in the space of a decade. These towering algae aren't just scenery; they're nurseries for rockfish, larders for otters, and some of the fastest carbon-capturing life on the planet, growing up to ten inches a day when conditions allow. Now the ocean's equivalent of the redwoods needs the same kind of defenders who've long fought for its terrestrial cousins. Below are ways to get in the water, get involved, and get loud for kelp — whether you're a diver, a data-gatherer, a donor, or just someone who wants these forests standing for the next generation.

Looking to dive deeper?

Order Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp by David Helvarg.

This inspiring new book explores kelp’s rich history, global importance, the threats it faces, and the growing movement to restore underwater forests. The book has been recognized by Publishers Weekly as one of the top science books of the season, with strong early praise from leaders in ocean conservation.

⤷ Dive Deeper

Sequoias of the Sea: The Vanishing Kelp Forests of California

More than 95% of the kelp forests have disappeared along the Northern California Coast.

SEQUOIAS OF THE SEA tells the story of the environmental, cultural and economic destruction impacting a coastal town that has lost its coastal kelp forest. It’s a deep dive into the lives of fishermen, tribes, scientists, and a community working to restore a habitat devastated by a warming climate.

⤷ Dive Deeper

Holden Hardcastle 9/2/26 Holden Hardcastle 9/2/26

Caspar Cove Project

Join the Caspar Cove Project (part of the Watermen's Alliance Urchin Removal Efforts) and help save kelp forests and ensure a thriving and sustainable future for our beloved blue planet.

This initiative is dedicated to increasing community involvement and conducting research to help understand and restore the ecological balance at Caspar Cove, Northern California.

Remove Urchins

Dive In

The Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring Training course is designed to provide participants with the skills and experience to complete the Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring survey protocol accurately. In addition to direct survey methods, the training will address safe diving practices, techniques of research diving, sampling design and theory, general marine ecology including species identification and interactions, and the importance of monitoring to meet marine management needs.

Reef Check Kelp Monitoring