Kelp forests are
vanishing all around
the world. Fast.
We’re developing science-
backed solutions to restore
and strengthen them.
Many of the world’s kelp forests are declining. Over the last seven years, up to 95% of kelp has disappeared in some areas off North America’s west coast.
Increasing water temperatures are killing kelp forests at the surface. And mass die-offs of sea stars mean urchins are killing them from below. The result is a stressed ecosystem that is severely out of balance.
Help the kelp,
and the kelp
will help you.
Just like jungles, healthy kelp forests are rich in life. They provide food and shelter for dozens of species, creating diverse and vibrant marine ecosystems.
Just like jungles, healthy kelp forests are rich in life. They provide food and shelter for dozens of species, creating diverse and vibrant marine ecosystems.
Fish
Salmon, lingcod, herring, and rockfish depend on kelp forests to find food, hide from predators, and safely lay their eggs for the next generation of fish to flourish.
Crabs and shrimp
Dozens of crab and shrimp species feed on the kelp itself or prey on smaller animals that live in the kelp forests.
Sea stars
Kelp forests are home to species like the giant Sunflower Sea Star, which eat sea urchins that graze upon the kelp, keeping the ecosystem in balance.
Whales
Grey whales visit kelp forests to feast on the abundant krill, shrimp, and crabs that live there. And humpback whales play with floating kelp fronds nearby in a behaviour known as “kelping”.
Sea otters
Sea otters spend much of their lives in kelp forests, which they use as shelter from predators like orcas and to find food like sea urchins and mollusks.
Seals and sea lions
Seals and sea lions use kelp forests to hunt for fish and other prey, and are sometimes found wrapped in kelp to sleep safely hidden from predators.
People
Coastal towns and cities depend on kelp forests for their fisheries and livelihoods, protection from powerful ocean waves, and their potential as a carbon sink in the race against climate change.
Kelp forests regulate water quality, and reduce acidity in the ocean. They can also protect our coastlines from storms and erosion.
Kelp forests also absorb CO2. Lots of it. Scientists believe it could become a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Knowledge
isn’t power until
it’s applied.
Successful kelp restoration starts with asking the right questions, building strong partnerships, and creating scalable solutions.
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Foundational research
To do, or not to do, that is the question. Through fieldwork, genetics, and state-of-the-art modeling, we’ll gain a better understanding of kelp, the best ways to restore it, and its role in fighting climate change.
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Strategic partnerships
Some issues are too big to solve alone. We collaborate closely with scientists, policy makers, First Nations, and environmental organizations to help accelerate the development of effective solutions.
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Application at scale
Science matters, but publishing papers can only be the beginning. We measure our success by the tangible impact we have. Because in the end, all that matters are solutions that help bring back kelp forests at scale — and at a rate faster than they decline.
Kelp forests cover one third of the world’s coastlines. An area 5x as big as all coral reefs.
A quarter of all the world’s kelp species are found along the Pacific coast of North America.
Bull kelp and giant kelp forests create large upright canopies, which provide vast habitats for marine species.
The diversity of kelp on B.C.’s vast coastline is unmatched, and provides unique opportunities for research and restoration.
Giant kelp (Macrocystis)
As a widespread and fast-
growing perennial, giant kelp is of particular importance for restoration efforts worldwide.
Bull kelp (Nereocystis)
The annual bull kelp is the largest species found in inshore waters, and can grow up to 100 feet in a single year.
Sciences Centre
British Columbia
Victoria
Scientists to
the rescue
Scientists to
the rescue
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Jon has a background in plant biochemistry and genomics. Before founding The Kelp Rescue Initiative he co-founded a successful cannabis science start-up. He’s witnessed the loss of kelp forests in BC from warming seas, and is passionate about reversing these declines.
Jonathan Page
Founder and Scientific Advisor
Adjunct Professor, UBC
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With 15 years of experience leading collaborative research in coastal ecosystems, Chris brings a broad background in rocky shore ecology, biodiversity, and ocean literacy. He has been studying kelp forest declines since 2016.
Christopher Neufeld
Project Lead
BMSC Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor, UBC
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Sam has a decade of experience studying the ecology and evolution of kelp. His knowledge of kelp biology and climate change impacts in the ocean is invaluable to the Kelp Rescue Initiative.
Samuel Starko
Project Advisor
Forrest Research Fellow, Wernberg Lab, UWA
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With more than 20 years experience leading conservation-relevant ocean science research, Julia brings her broad expertise in marine ecology, data synthesis, EDI and climate change impacts and solutions to the initiative.
Julia K. Baum
Scientific Advisor
Professor and President's Chair, UVic
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Sean brings more than 25 years of experience leading research in population persistence and adaptation to environmental change. His particular focus is in marine fishes, including pacific salmon.
Sean Rogers
Scientific Advisor
BMSC Director, Professor, UCalgary
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Clay has an M.Sc in invasive species ecology and has previously studied reproduction in intertidal macroalgae. He brings a professional background in lab management, research coordination, and science communication.
Clay Steell
Project Coordinator
- Grace Melchers
Assistant Project Coordinator
Natural Resources Conservation BSc Graduate, UBC
Cammie Good
Burrard Inlet Restoration
MSc student, SFU & BCIT
- Loren Rieseberg
Genomics
Killam Professor, UBC
- Gregory Owens
Genomics
Assistant Professor, UVic
- Jordan Bemmels
Population Genomics
Postdoctoral Fellow, Owens Lab, UVic
- Eric Gonzalez Segovia
Genome Assembly
Postdoctoral Fellow, Rieseberg Lab, UBC
- Brian Timmer
Historical Ecology and Kelp Restoration
PhD student, Baum Lab, UVic
- Lauren Dykman
Kelp Restoration
Postdoctoral Fellow, Kelp Rescue Initiative & UVic
- Romina Barbosa
Broughton Area Kelp Conservation
Postdoctoral Fellow, BMSC, UVic
- Hansi Singh
Earth Systems Modeling
Assistant Professor, UVic
- Matthew Csordas
Species Distribution Modeling
PhD student, Baum Lab, UVic
- Patrick Martone
Kelp Thermal Performance
Professor, UBC
- Varoon P. Supratya
Kelp Thermal Performance
PhD Student, Martone Lab, UBC
- Claire M. Attridge
Kelp Forest Ecosystems
MSc Student, Côté Lab, SFU
- Kieran Cox
Species Interactions
Liber Ero and NSERC Fellow, Côté Lab, SFU
- Isabelle Côté
Kelp Forest Ecosystems
Professor, SFU
Our partners
What looks like an underwater jungle isn’t even a plant, but a brown algae.
Kelps don’t have roots. Instead, they cling to hard surfaces with a claw-like structure called a holdfast.
Canada has the world’s longest coastline: it’s 10x as long as the U.S.’s.
Kelp can grow up to 100 feet in one season. That’s a stunning 25 cm in a single day.
Kelps use air-filled floats to bring their leaves up to the sunlight above.
Kelp covers ⅓ of the world’s coastlines.
An area 5x as big as all coral reefs.
Spread the word
Give kelp a hug
Partner with us