Over the past few years, and again more recently, we have been hearing about a growing concern along our coastline. The once abundant kelp forests of Monterey Bay are thinning, shrinking or disappearing entirely. These underwater forests are a defining feature of our region. They support biodiversity and protect both natural and human communities that depend on the ocean. Today the decline of our kelp forests has become one of the most urgent environmental stories for the California coast.
The recent collapse of local kelp forests can be traced to a series of prolonged marine heat waves that began around 2013. These unusually warm periods disrupted the normal patterns of cold, nutrient rich water that kelp requires to thrive. Without sustained cool upwelling, kelp weakened and struggled to regenerate.
At the same time, a devastating disease outbreak swept through populations of sunflower sea stars. These sea stars are a key predator of purple sea urchins. When they disappeared, the urchin populations surged. Without predators to keep them in balance, the population devoured entire stands of kelp. Large areas of the seafloor were transformed into barren urchin-dominated landscapes devoid of the towering kelp canopy that once defined them.
Together, these two pressures caused a dramatic decline. In Northern California alone, bull kelp populations dropped by more than 90%.
The loss of kelp affects far more than the kelp itself. Kelp forests support coastal fisheries, buffer waves, reduce erosion and play an important role in capturing and storing carbon. When kelp disappears, these functions weaken, compromising the health of the entire coastal ecosystem. The decline harms commercial and recreational fisheries and limits the ability of coastal environments to store carbon in the future.
This crisis has inspired an outpouring of public attention and action. Here in Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has emerged as a leader in kelp recovery efforts. In spring 2024, its Sanctuary Advisory Council launched a dedicated Kelp Working Group. This collaborative effort brings together scientists, conservation groups, state agencies, nonprofit partners, tribal representatives and fishing advocates. Their work is shaping a comprehensive Iconic Kelp Action Plan grounded in research, monitoring, restoration, community engagement and education.
Restoring kelp is a long-term effort. It requires an understanding of ocean conditions and a willingness to work across agencies and communities. Public storytelling has become an important tool in this work. The newly released documentary "Sequoias of the Sea" has introduced broader audiences to the environmental, cultural and economic consequences faced by coastal communities that have lost their kelp forests. These stories help connect scientific data to lived experience, inspiring more people to take part in solutions.
Researchers are also exploring practical strategies to support kelp recovery. In some locations, divers are manually removing purple sea urchins to relieve pressure on surviving kelp. Scientists are identifying sites where cooler water and local currents may provide favorable conditions for kelp to rebound. Outplanting experiments place young kelp in these promising areas to determine where survival rates are highest. Long term restoration depends on rebuilding a balanced ecosystem, which includes supporting the return of sea urchin predators such as sea stars.
Ultimately, meaningful kelp restoration requires broad participation. The sanctuary's approach emphasizes collaboration with tribal communities, conservation organizations, local governments, fishermen and the broader public. Additionally, work on continuous monitoring through satellite imagery, dive surveys and community science helps track changes in real time and guide adaptive management. The kelp forest is a shared resource, and its recovery depends on shared stewardship.
Here on the Central Coast, the health of kelp forests is deeply connected to our identity and our future. These forests support the wildlife we marvel at from our cliffs and beaches. They sustain fisheries that have shaped local culture for generations. They help stabilize our shorelines and contribute to climate resilience. When we lose them, we lose more than an ecosystem. We lose part of the fabric that connects our community to the sea.
Yet despite the challenges, there is hope. The ocean is resilient. Recovery will not happen instantly, but the collective effort now underway offers real reason for optimism. If we continue to invest in research, restoration and collaboration, our underwater forests can return. With patience, commitment and care, kelp can thrive again, and our region can continue its long tradition of living closely with the sea.
This is the work of our community. It is the work of our time. And it is the work of our ocean backyard.