Each #kelp population carries its own genetic mix shaped by local conditions. When forests shrink or become isolated they can lose diversity, slowing recovery. Our research shows mixing individuals from different regions may support resilience. Dive deeper: kelprescue.org/publications

How do you plant a forest under the sea?
It starts in the nursery. Tiny #kelp gametophytes are grown on rocks, tiles and other materials, then carefully moved to the ocean floor.
We’re refining these methods to make restoration scalable across BC.
#HelpKelp #OceanRestoration #BC

#HappyHalloween 🎃 Meet the ocean’s “zombies,” purple urchins. They strip #KelpForests bare and survive for years without food by slowing their metabolism and consuming their own tissues. Alive but barely, waiting for the kelp to return. 👻

More fall happenings in the kelp forest, a hooded #nudibranch (Melibe leonina) feeding aggregation. Have you ever had a chance to witness this in your local #KelpForest?

With in-water monitoring done, we’re reviewing #underwater camera footage from the summer. This #GiantKelp (Macrocystis) bed we restored thrived until late July, homing copper rockfish and perch before urchins grazed it down. Though unfortunate, seeing the successful restoration was a win!

Last week, Dr. Katie Dobkowski generously gave our team a presentation on the role of #kelp
crabs as bull kelp consumers. A few things we learned: they prefer reproductive tissue (sori) over non-reproductive, they have a wide temp tolerance and can turn bright orange if they eat sargassum!

Noticing piles of #kelp on the beach? As leaves fall, kelp loosens from the seafloor. Carried ashore, microbes and small creatures break it down, releasing nutrients into the sand and soil. Even after leaving the ocean, kelp supports life on the coast.
#Nature #VancouverIsland

Thank you @cpawsbc.bsky.social , @georgiastraitbc.bsky.social and @penderconservancy.bsky.social for having us this weekend! So great to spend time with and learn from fellow #TideTurners

Spotted in the kelp forest this week, signs of seasonal shift! By early fall, bull kelp slows and softens. Epiphytes and larger opportunistic seaweeds can “hitchhike,” becoming micro-habitats for invertebrates and microbes. Even at the end of its life, bull #kelp supports #biodiversity.

Wildlife, kelp forests and ROVs, what more could you ask for in a day on the water? We joined the Tla’amin Nation Guardian Watchmen to lead ROV training and chat about survey methods and kelp forest ecology.

Thanks for having us!

Always nice to end our field season on a positive note. After building an urchin fence and outplanting kelp, this site, which had completely disappearing in 2014, is recovering well.

Kelp Rescue is excited to announce the publication of our 1st ever kelp restoration peer-reviewed paper! 🎉Since our start in 2021, we've been testing scientific approaches to kelp restoration, and this paper is the culmination of a huge team effort.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

🌊 We're Hiring! 🌱

The Kelp Rescue Initiative (KRI) is seeking a Restoration and Nursery Technician to join our passionate and science-driven team at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) on Vancouver Island.

👉 Full job description and how to apply: lnkd.in/djbQBkQ8

The Kelp Rescue Initiative is seeking proposals for the following roles:
🎥 1. Educational Training Video Producer
📱 2. Social Media and Outreach Campaign Coordinator
🎬 3. 360-Video Editor for VR Dive Tours

📩 Interested? View the full RFP and submission details here: www.linkedin.com/posts/kelp-r...

Happy #PhycologyFriday🌿🌊 Watch how fast our outplanted kelp grows in only one month, providing habitat for fish at Denman Island!

We just got back from the first field trip of the season, checking on the 1000 square meters of bull kelp outplanted in partnership with @kelprescue.bsky.social and Project Watershed.

The kelp babies are still small, but should grow fast in the coming months!