Catalina Island Marine Institute Kelp Restoration study seeks to revive iconic kelp forests on the east end of Catalina.
This comprehensive three-year study will explore various approaches to facilitate the recovery of Giant Kelp.
In 2014, an unprecedented marine heatwave devastated kelp forests statewide, including Catalina Island. The warmer water and absence of kelp allowed the invasive algae Sargassum horneri to take over and hinder kelp growth. As a result, kelp recovery on the Island has been sporadic. In response, the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) has embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor to bring back Giant Kelp to its sites on the Island.
The CIMI Kelp Restoration project — led by a team of diverse marine science experts and CIMI staff — encompasses a multifaceted approach, combining scientific research and on-the-ground restoration efforts. As this study continues, the team will explore various approaches to facilitate the recovery of kelp that are both sustainable and cost-effective.
The main objectives of CIMI Kelp Restoration include:
Understand kelp forest trends on Catalina Island
Monitor and map restoration sites
Remove Sargassum and reintroduce kelp
Integrate kelp restoration education into CIMI’s programs and share findings with the public and scientific community.
Restoration efforts will occur at two locations on Catalina Island — Toyon Bay and Fox Landing. These locations also serve as the backdrop for CIMI's outdoor education programs that provide year-round marine science education to 28,000 students in grades 4-12 each year.
The study aims to create a cost-effective and sustainable plan to restore kelp forests at Toyon Bay and Fox Landing, while also setting up a kelp restoration team at CIMI and incorporating kelp monitoring into educational programs. In the future, the hope is to expand restoration to nearby sites through collaboration with the dive community.
For more information about CIMI Kelp Restoration and how to get involved, visit cimikelp.org.
CIMI Kelp Restoration is a project of the Catalina Island Marine Institute. CIMI is operated by Guided Discoveries, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children through unique opportunities for discovery.
This project is made possible by the generous support from the Builders Initiative and the Alumbra Innovation Foundation. The Builders Initiative is supporting kelp restoration and the Alumbra Innovations Foundation is supporting kelp restoration outreach and education.
Additional partners include The Coastal and Marine Institute at San Diego State University, CA Reef Check, and California State University Long Beach, GIS Master Program. Additional sponsors include ESRI, SeaFloor Systems and Teledyne Geospatial CARIS software.