Discovery Speaker Series: Restoring Kelp Forests

Tune in on December 7th @ 6:30pm as we dive into the importance of kelp forests and why they are disappearing in Puget Sound. We will hear from Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF), as they develop solutions to rebuild the essential habitat kelp forests provide. As well as the Seattle Aquarium who is studying kelp forests in Elliott Bay to learn what conditions are needed for healthy, abundant kelp forests.

Kelp forests are one of the most productive habitats on the planet. They provide food and shelter for a variety of important species and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. In South Puget Sound, 80% of bull kelp has been lost in the last 50 years. Jodie Toft, Deputy Director, and Aurora Oceguera, Habitat Lab Technician from PSRF will give us an overview about kelp restoration efforts in Puget Sound, including seed banking. Zachary Randell, Research Scientist at the Seattle Aquarium, will take us below the surface to see how Remotely Operated Vehicles and Artificial Intelligence are being used to monitor kelp forests. If you are interested in getting involved with improving the health of Puget Sound this is a talk you don’t want to miss!