Kelp

Kelp are marine algae that grow in underwater forests, creating habitat for many important marine species. Kelp forests are iconic on the West Coast, so understanding status and trends gives us insight into how the broader marine ecosystem is doing.

How is kelp doing?

How is kelp changing?

Key Findings

> Kelp status along the U.S. West Coast is Far Below Expectation, with 80% of kelp beds below historical expectation. This is the second-to-lowest year on record since 1984.

> The coast-wide change in kelp is No Trend. While the status of beds in 2023 was poor, this represents an abnormal year rather than a trend.

> The areas where kelp was lowest were California and southern Oregon.

Kelp — A Deeper Look

How Did We Calculate?