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Bull Kelp is the Best

Bull Kelp is the Best

Establish bull kelp as the official state marine forest

Bull kelp is vital to Washington's cultural and ecological landscape. Together with understory kelp, other floating kelps, and eelgrass meadows, bull kelp forests provide a mosaic of habitats that support the state's marine species like orcas, salmon, and rockfish by providing food and shelter. Bull kelp is also deeply entwined in Tribal heritage as it has offered abundant food, safe travel, and other resources for Tribal nations since time immemorial.

Despite its crucial role in our marine and coastal ecosystems, bull kelp has declined dramatically throughout south and central Puget Sound in recent years. The Washington State Legislature provided initial funding to implement priority actions identified in the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan during the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions.

Continuing this work, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources established the Statewide Kelp and Eelgrass Health and Conservation Plan in 2023 to conserve and recover at least 10,000 acres of kelp forests and eelgrass meadows by 2040, driving collaborative efforts to preserve and restore our bull kelp forests on Washington's coast and in Puget Sound.

Conserving and recovering this vital species relies on the shared awareness that our bull kelp forests are critical to Washington’s identity, culture, and ecology. Our goal is to work with partners to ensure that the state legislature designates bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) as the official state marine forest.