First Nation partners replant kelp in Clayoquot Sound
A partnership in Clayoquot Sound is replanting degraded kelp forests to restore the marine habitat.
Jennifer Cole reports that a group is helping rebuild forests in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They began this work in early 2026 to fix damaged underwater areas near the coast effectively. This effort involves specific local communities working together to return the sea to a healthier state.
The team created a nursery to raise young bull kelp and giant kelp away from hungry sea urchins. Later sections are harvested and moved to different spots around the sound to encourage growth again. So far, the area replanted is small at 4,200 square meters, which is the size of about ten basketball courts.
Emily Fulton, a manager for the Redd Fish Restoration Society, stated that they want to determine the actual benefit of kelp creating habitat. She noted that they do not have numbers to associate with the specific benefits that kelp forests provide to the surrounding ocean environment.
Tatt Charlie, a tribal guardian, explained that traditional knowledge preserved in oral history guided the planting locations for the new kelp. He said his ancestors followed a rule of giving back and never taking more than needed to maintain balance.
“So, to have that balance is what we're trying to achieve with our territories.”