Oceans Program for The Nature Conservancy California

Organisation

Oceans Program for The Nature Conservancy California

Restoration Projects:

  • The objective of restoration was to re-establish ecosystem services provided by kelp forests, particularly fisheries production. Currently testing Hand harvest of urchin by commercial divers + kelp enhancement as a kelp forest restoration tool.

  • The objective of restoration was to re-establish ecosystem services provided by kelp forests, particularly fisheries production. Currently, urchin trapping and recreational urchin removals are being tested for habitat restoration. Voluntary recreational dive log: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrZMmoiJMS4SzI7_1mdk_puvidV3HbeWeXTTg6LdGOC8mA-Q/viewform

  • The objective of restoration was to re-establish ecosystem services provided by kelp forests, particularly fisheries production. Currently testing Hand harvest of urchin by commercial divers + urchin trapping as a kelp forest restoration tool.

  • This work addressed the following questions: 1a) Can commercial divers be coordinated to reduce urchins to target densities (< 2 urchins/m2) and maintain this urchin density at sites along the North coast? 1b) What is the cost and effort (logistics and time investment) required to achieve and maintain this target urchin density? 2) How does kelp density change following urchin removals, compared to un-restored control sites?

  • Address the following questions:

    1a) Can commercial divers be coordinated to reduce urchins to target densities (< 2 urchins/m2) and maintain this urchin density at sites along the North coast? 1b) What is the cost and effort (logistics and time investment) required to achieve and maintain this target urchin density? 2) How does kelp density change following urchin removals, compared to un-restored control sites?