Off the coast of Northern California, an ecological disaster is unfolding beneath the waves. An explosion in purple sea urchin populations has decimated 90% of the state’s kelp forests. These “underwater rainforests” are vital for carbon sequestration and providing habitat for diverse marine life. Divers and scientists are now engaged in a massive “urchin cull” to allow the kelp to regrow. We investigate the causes of this imbalance—ranging from the loss of natural predators like sea otters to warming ocean temperatures—and the efforts being made to restore the emerald canopies of the Pacific.
Protecting the Kelp Forests: The Unsung Heroes of the Pacific Ecosystem
