North Coast U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) reintroduced a bill that aims to allocate federal funds to address declining kelp forests, crucial for marine biodiversity. But a Republican-controlled Congress and White House aimed at cutting federal spending could mean hurdles for the legislation.
A massive decline in kelp forests, in particular off the coast of Mendocino and Sonoma counties in 2013-14, contributed to a drop in populations of multiple marine species, like red abalone.
"Healthy kelp ecosystems are essential not only to the stability and survival of hundreds of marine species, but also to protecting coastlines, generating income for coastal communities, and supporting sustainable fisheries," said Huffman in a prepared statement.
"As we continue to see the decline of these ecosystems due to climate change, it's urgent that Congress steps in and passes much-needed federal assistance to help counter these challenges in our oceans. With this bill, we can take an important step toward improving and recovering conditions for kelp and other marine life before it's too late," he said in the statement.
The 2025 bill, called "Help Our Kelp Act," would authorize $5 million a year in a new NOAA grant program to fund conservation, restoration, and management projects focused on kelp forest ecosystems.
A similar bill was introduced in the 2023-24 session but stalled after being referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
"It didn't make it out of committee in the last Congress, it should have, there was no reason, but it just wasn't a Republican priority," said Huffman, reached by phone Thursday.
Republicans from the House of Representatives introduced a budget plan Wednesday to cut federal spending by $2 trillion, raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, while providing $4.5 trillion in tax cuts.
"We'll push for it this time around. I'm pretty clear-eyed about the politics right now, but it doesn't mean you just stop pushing good bills," said Huffman.
Researchers found a kelp forest decline of more than 90% from 2014-15 off the coast of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, believed to be caused by a marine heatwave and an uptick of sea urchins who eat seaweed. Northern California kelp forests surprised researchers by bouncing back more than expected, according to reporting from Bay Nature Magazine from 2021. But Huffman said signs of revival don't mean we're yet out of the woods.
"The next problem could put this entire ecosystem in jeopardy," he said.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). The Huffman news release says the bill is endorsed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Center for the Blue Economy, Seattle Aquarium, Blue Frontier, Noyo Center for Marine Science, Ocean Conservancy, Greater Farallones Association, Oregon Kelp Alliance, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, American Sportfishing Association, Surfrider Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and The Bay Foundation.