Hedgehog population decimated by divers, while seaweed thrives in Santa Monica Bay's revitalized marine ecosystem
The California coastline has witnessed a remarkable turnaround in the kelp forest off Rancho Palos Verdes, thanks to a groundbreaking project led by The Bay Foundation and the Catalina Conservancy.
The kelp forest, often referred to as the 'sequoias of the sea', has been struggling due to heat, pollution, and an overpopulation of purple sea urchins. This has resulted in a collapse, with the forest losing a staggering 80% of its extent.
However, the situation has started to improve significantly. The project, which has summed up an impressive 15,575 hours of underwater work, has seen the removal of 5.8 million purple sea urchins from the affected area. This active management has helped break collapse cycles, even in urban coasts.
The project's monitoring confirms greater abundances of kelp bass, sheepfish, and even the return of the California spiny lobster. Densely packed mats of marine alga have formed on the surface, providing habitat for wading birds and fish. In areas where the sea urchin population has been reduced, the seaweed forests can reappear dense, with fronds that rise up to 30 meters and grow 60 cm per day.
One of the key indicators of the forest's recovery is the increase in the weight of red sea urchin gonads. In restored sites, they have been found to be 168% heavier, a clear sign of a healthier ecosystem.
The project's success offers an exportable model for other regions, such as Tasmania, Korea, or the Santa Barbara Channel. The marine alga, like all natural infrastructure, pays dividends if cared for. It captures excess nutrients, improves water quality, and fixes sediments, reducing slope instability after rains.
Moreover, seaweed forests play a crucial role in climate adaptation. They fix carbon, stabilize sediments, buffer storm waves, and create habitat for various marine species, including blue whales. If scaled with climate finance and blue carbon targets, projects like this can multiply sinks, protect coasts, and reduce risks.
Climate adaptation begins with local solutions with clear metrics. The ecological threshold to allow regrowth is defined as two sea urchins per square meter. The project demonstrates that directed management can recover a habitat that supports more than 800 species, offering a beacon of hope for the future of our oceans.
Read also:
- Is it feasible for nuclear energy to supplant coal-based electricity production in India?
- Pharmaceutical corporation to invest $30 billion in U.S. for increased natural gas production
- Demonstrating Carbon Capture in Agroforestry Through Digital Measurement Verification (MRV)
- Homeowners in Britain swiftly adopting eco-friendly home improvements
