Hedgehogs eradicated in vast numbers, seaweed reappears in Santa Monica Bay by divers' actions
In the coastal waters off Rancho Palos Verdes, California, a remarkable transformation has taken place. The collapse of the kelp forest, a vital marine ecosystem often referred to as the 'sequoias of the sea,' has been reversed, thanks to a project spearheaded by The Bay Foundation.
Over a period of 15,575 hours, the team worked tirelessly underwater, eliminating an astounding 5.8 million purple sea urchins that had overrun the area. This drastic reduction allowed the kelp to reappear, creating a habitat for over 800 species and providing numerous benefits for both the environment and local fisheries.
The kelp forest plays a crucial role in carbon fixation, stabilizing sediments, mitigating storm waves, and creating a thriving ecosystem. However, due to heat, pollution, and overpopulation of purple sea urchins, the forest off the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes suffered a devastating loss of 80% of its extent over two decades.
The project involved professional divers, volunteers, and fishermen, who manually reduced the sea urchin populations. The success of this effort demonstrates that active management can break collapse cycles in urban coasts and offers an exportable model for marine restoration in Tasmania, Korea, or the Santa Barbara Channel.
The restored kelp forest now covers an area equivalent to 61 football fields and has proven that directed management can recover a habitat in a matter of months. The regrowth of the kelp forest has also improved water quality by capturing excess nutrients, resulting in the water clarifying, prey returning, predators appearing, and the recomposition of the trophic network.
However, rebel pockets of urchins persist in some areas, but the seaweed's resilience helps it recover if herbivores are kept under control. The question now is how to institutionalize the logic of the project, with evidence-based thresholds, permanent monitoring, and alliances with coastal communities.
The benefits of the restored kelp forest are far-reaching, including biodiversity, coastal protection, and support for fisheries. Moreover, the kelp forest helps fix sediments, reducing slope instability after rains, and supports blue whales, one of the largest creatures on Earth.
This project serves as a beacon of hope for marine ecosystems worldwide, demonstrating that with dedicated effort and management, even the most seemingly hopeless situations can be reversed.
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