U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced the Help Our Kelp Act, legislation that would provide financial support for America’s kelp forest ecosystems.
“Healthy kelp ecosystems are essential not only to the stability and survival of hundreds of marine species but also to protecting coastlines, generating income for coastal communities, and supporting sustainable fisheries,” U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-California) said in a statement. “As we continue to see the decline of these ecosystems due to climate change, it’s urgent that Congress steps in and passes much-needed federal assistance to help counter these challenges in our oceans. With this bill, we can take an important step toward improving and recovering conditions for kelp and other marine life before it’s too late.”
If passed, the Help Our Kelp Act would create a NOAA grant program to conserve and restore kelp forest ecosystems. The program would authorize USD 5 million (EUR 4.6 million) in grant funding from fiscal year 2026 through 2030.
“Oregon’s kelp forests provide critical habitats and food sources for the marine mammals, birds, and many fish species that support Oregon’s commercial fishing industry, Tribes, and coastal economies,” U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) said in a statement. "As these forests vanish, the wildlife that depends on kelp forests will struggle, throwing nature out of balance and leaving coastal and Tribal communities in uncharted waters. The Help Our Kelp Act will get us back on track and protect our ecosystems, our local economies, and our fishing industry."
First introduced in 2023, the legislation ...
