Kelp and eelgrass conservation are on the horizon in Washington

Last week, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted its plan to conserve and restore 10,000 acres of kelp forest and seagrass meadows by 2040.

Kelp and eelgrass are essential for healthy oceans. The provide a home and hunting ground for a whole host of species such as seals, sea otters, Dungeness crabs, and orcas. They even help combat the effects of erosion by stabilizing shorelines and reducing wave energy.

Unfortunately, across the Pacific Northwest and Washington specifically,  kelp forests have declined in size over the years. Some have even disappeared all together.  The state’s multistage final plan seeks to revitalize these critical ecosystems.

The first step of the plan will restore kelp and eelgrass found within South Puget Sound, the Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Grays Harbor, found on our Pacific coast. Over the next several years, DNR will add additional areas for conservation all across the state in order to hit the goal.

This initiative is pioneering, and makes it clear that Washingtonians know the value that kelp and eelgrass provide to the ocean. We believe other coastal states should establish similar goals and programs, and engage with the public in a similar way.

You can read more on our thoughts about the plan here.