Elliot Kim
Kelp is a large seaweed that forms dense canopies in rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats. Washington state is home to 22 species of kelp, making it one of the most diverse populations of kelp in the world. Kelp is an important primary producer in the Puget Sound ecosystem, providing food and shelter for numerous species. However, Puget Sound has been losing its kelp for the last four decades. The causes of these declines are uncertain but are likely due to stressors such as deteriorating water quality and grazing by animals. Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) has established a kelp lab to grow kelp that can be planted at restoration sites, and there is ongoing research to identify enhancement techniques to restore lost kelp beds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of kelp species in Washington state | 22 |
| Number of kelp species in Puget Sound | 22 |
| Types of kelp in Puget Sound | Bull kelp, giant kelp, floating kelp, non-floating kelp, canopy-forming kelp, sugar kelp |
| Decline in kelp abundance | Ongoing |
| Causes of decline | Deterioration of water quality, grazing by animals, unknown factors |
| Kelp restoration initiatives | Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan, kelp lab at NOAA's Manchester Research Station, bull kelp seed bank |
| Benefits of kelp | Food and habitat for marine life, carbon absorption, protection from ocean acidification, modification of currents and wave energy |
| Bull kelp characteristics | Fast-growing, thrives in cool, nutrient-rich, high-flow waters, grows in high-energy environments |
| Bull kelp growth rate | Up to five inches per day in optimal conditions |
| Bull kelp life cycle | Begins on the ocean floor with root-like structures (holdfasts) attaching to large rocks; vertical stipe grows from holdfast, supporting a hollow, gas-filled bulb and floating fronds |
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Puget Sound kelp species
Puget Sound, located in Washington state, is home to 22 species of kelp, making it one of the most diverse kelp floras in the world. The two most prominent species are bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and giant kelp (Macrocystis integrifolia or Macrocystis pyrifera).
Bull kelp is an iconic foundation species on the West Coast, forming extensive forests in nearshore, rocky habitats. It is a floating kelp species that creates a living canopy structure, with its bulbs and blades reaching the surface while remaining anchored to the hard bottom. This fast-growing species thrives in cool, nutrient-rich, high-flow waters and is an annual algae, with a new generation emerging each spring. Bull kelp forests provide a valuable habitat for a diverse range of marine life, contributing to the productivity and biodiversity of coastal ecosystems.
Giant kelp is another floating kelp species found in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and along the coast. It forms conspicuous floating canopies or kelp beds and is perennial, persisting for several years.
In addition to these dominant bed-forming taxa, numerous species of understory (non-floating) kelp occur in subtidal habitats throughout Puget Sound. These non-floating kelp species are abundant and widely distributed, and their ecological importance is significant.
However, Puget Sound has been experiencing a decline in its kelp populations for several decades. The causes of these declines are uncertain but are likely due to stressors such as deteriorating water quality, grazing by animals, and other human-induced influences. To address this issue, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) and various partners have developed the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan, also known as the Kelp Plan. This plan aims to restore kelp forests, reduce stressors, promote awareness, and enhance understanding of kelp distribution and trends.
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Kelp forests
In Puget Sound, bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) is the primary canopy-forming species, found growing along much of the coastline. Bull kelp is an annual algae, with each spring bringing a new generation of kelp that grows to create the forest canopy. This species is characterised by a highly dimorphic lifecycle, consisting of a large diploid sporophytic (bed-forming) phase and a microscopic haploid gametophytic phase. The sporophytes of Nereocystis are annual or semi-annual, while those of Macrocystis (giant kelp) are perennial. The stipes of bull kelp can grow up to five inches per day in optimal conditions of nutrients and light, forming dense beds that resemble land forests.
Unfortunately, Puget Sound has been losing its kelp forests over the last four decades. The causes of these declines are uncertain, but likely factors include deteriorating water quality from runoff and shoreline development, and grazing by animals. The loss of kelp habitat has had a significant impact on the ecosystem, affecting species such as rockfish and salmon.
Efforts are being made to restore the kelp forests in Puget Sound. The Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF), in partnership with government agencies and nonprofits, has developed the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan. This plan aims to revitalise the bull kelp population and has already established a kelp lab at NOAA's Manchester Research Station to grow kelp for restoration sites. Other actions include experimental kelp planting, the development of a kelp germplasm bank, and an underwater kelp monitoring program.
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Bull kelp
Despite its importance, Puget Sound has been losing its bull kelp forests over the last few decades. The causes of these declines are uncertain but are likely due to stressors such as deterioration of water quality from runoff and shoreline development, and grazing by animals. In response, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund has developed the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan, which aims to revitalise the bull kelp population in the region through research, restoration, and community engagement.
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Kelp conservation
Puget Sound, home to 22 species of kelp, has been losing its kelp for the last forty years. The decline of kelp in Puget Sound has been observed in many areas, with large kelp beds vanishing from the region. This is particularly concerning as kelp is a vital habitat for rockfish and numerous other species including forage fish, invertebrates, birds, and salmon.
The good news is that many partners, including several tribes, NOAA, DNR, Northwest Straits Commission, Northwest Straits Foundation, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Marine Agronomics, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, have come together to create the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan (the Kelp Plan). This plan outlines six goals to help protect and restore kelp species in Puget Sound. The goals include restoring kelp forests, describing kelp distribution and trends, reducing stressors, and promoting awareness, engagement, and action from user groups, tribes, the public, and decision-makers.
As part of the Kelp Plan, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) has established a kelp lab at NOAA's Manchester Research Station to grow kelp that can be planted at restoration sites. They have been experimenting with seeding techniques and producing various life stages of kelp that can be used to re-establish kelp forests. Additionally, PSRF has created a bull kelp seed bank in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to conserve genetic material and produce seeds for kelp restoration.
Other efforts to conserve and restore kelp in Puget Sound include improving water quality, creating protected kelp areas, and increasing monitoring of kelp beds. With these collective efforts, there is hope that Puget Sound kelp can be recovered and protected for the future.
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Kelp restoration
Puget Sound, home to 22 species of kelp, has been losing its kelp forests for the last forty years. The causes of these ongoing declines are uncertain, but likely factors include stressors such as the deterioration of water quality due to excess nutrients and sediments from runoff and shoreline development, as well as grazing by animals.
Kelp is an important primary producer, contributing to the Puget Sound food web by providing food and shelter for a variety of species, from bacteria to mammals. They also release dissolved organic carbon and significantly alter the physical environment by modifying currents and wave energy.
Recognizing the importance of kelp forests, the Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF), in partnership with government agencies, nonprofits, and local communities, has developed the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan (the Kelp Plan). This plan outlines six goals to help protect and restore kelp species, focusing on restoring kelp forests, describing kelp distribution and trends, reducing stressors, and promoting awareness and engagement.
As part of their efforts, PSRF has established a kelp lab at NOAA's Manchester Research Station to grow kelp for planting at restoration sites. They are experimenting with seeding techniques and producing various life stages of kelp. Additionally, PSRF is conducting experimental kelp planting with NOAA and the Port of Seattle and has launched an underwater kelp monitoring program with partners like the Reef Check Foundation and Marauder Robotics.
The Eyes on Kelp Initiative, launched in 2022, is a comprehensive three-year monitoring initiative that aims to establish an expanded network of underwater kelp monitoring sites in Puget Sound. The initiative includes partnerships with Tribal Nations, resource agencies, and local communities, with support from organizations like the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
In addition to these efforts, PSRF is working with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to develop a kelp germplasm bank from seed stocks collected throughout Puget Sound. This bank will be used for cultivation, genetic analysis, and restoration projects, ensuring the availability of seed material for kelp restoration and the conservation of genetic material.
The Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan provides a research and management framework for coordinated action to protect and restore kelp forests, with the vision of revitalized kelp forests stretching from Olympia to Vancouver, B.C., bringing economic, recreational, and ecological benefits to the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, kelp grows in Puget Sound. However, there has been a steady decline in the kelp population over the last four decades.
There are 22 native species of kelp in Washington state, which is one of the most diverse populations of kelp in the world. The most common type of kelp in Puget Sound is bull kelp.
Bull kelp is a fast-growing species of kelp that thrives in cool, nutrient-rich, high-flow waters. It forms extensive forests in nearshore, rocky habitats and creates a living canopy structure, with bulbs and blades that reach the surface while remaining anchored to the ocean floor.
Kelp is important in Puget Sound because it provides food and shelter for numerous species, from bacteria to mammals. It also helps to protect the Sound from the effects of ocean acidification by absorbing carbon dioxide from the water.
