Upcoming Changes to Commercial Harvest Regulations for Kelp and Other Marine Algae

Bull kelp canopy at the ocean’s surface
photo by K. Elsmore

The California Fish and Game Commission has adopted regulation amendments and new regulations for commercial harvest of kelp and other marine algae that will go into effect on January 1, 2023.

The amended regulations include temporary changes that expire on Jan. 1, 2026.

Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp Enhanced Status Report Now Available

The Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp Enhanced Status Report on the California Marine Species Portal
CDFW image

The Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp Enhanced Status Report, or Kelp ESR, is now available on the California Marine Species Portal. The Kelp ESR is the first for marine algae species and one of 34 produced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) since 2018 to help guide future fisheries management as required by the Marine Life Management Act Master Plan for Fisheries.

Clipping the Mermaid’s Locks: Observing Bull Kelp Harvest in Del Norte County

photo by G. Contolini, California Sea Grant

The harvesters donned their wetsuits, grabbed their scissors, and launched their yellow kayaks into the ocean from the pebbled beach. We followed close behind, excited for our first observation of this kind of commercial harvest.

California’s Ocean Habitats: Kelp Forests

Bountiful food in the kelp forest attracts marine mammals like this harbor seal in Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve
CDFW photo by M. Haggerty

Kelp forests provide countless ecosystem services, benefiting both marine species and landlubbers alike. They form the foundation of marine food webs, coastal economies, and Indigenous traditions. They protect juvenile fish from predation by providing nursery habitat, and coastlines from erosion by buffering wave energy.

Bull Kelp Working Group Launched

Bull kelp washed up on beach
photo by R. Flores-Miller

In December, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife hosted the first Bull Kelp Working Group (BKWG) meeting. The BKWG process is part of the ongoing effort by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Fish and Game Commission to review and consider changes for the commercial harvest of marine algae. The aim of the BKWG is to collaboratively develop potential regulatory changes to manage commercial bull kelp harvest that will consider a regional approach and specific harvest methods and data needs.