Atlantic Spain and Portugal

Atlantic Spain and Portugal host Europe’s southernmost kelp forests, where warming, grazing and invasive seaweeds can drive rapid loss. Progress includes harvest restrictions in parts of Spain, new protected areas in Portugal, and restoration trials led by NGOs and researchers. Monitoring is strong, with long-running programs in Portugal and Galicia and expanded seasonal surveys in Galicia that track kelp and grazing pressure. Opportunity is to use EU restoration frameworks and funding to scale action and improve cross-border coordination with shared mapping products.

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Bianca ReisDavid JacintoFrancisco Arenas

People living within 50km of kelp forests:

5,935,807

GDP(B) within 50KM of Kelp:

$197.23 billion

Ocean Warming Rate by 2100 (°C):

2.72 °C

KM2 of Kelp:

4,796

Key Species:

Laminaria ochroleuca

Saccharina latissima

Saccorhiza polyschides

Southern Europe’s kelp forests are rare and vulnerable. Protecting them is not only a climate and biodiversity priority—it is about safeguarding the region’s last marine forest strongholds, with the Iberian Peninsula hosting a unique genetic pool of kelp populations.

Key Developments

Across the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, kelp conservation is gaining recognition, though practical efforts remain fragmented. In Galicia (NW Spain), harvesting restrictions have been implemented to protect remaining Laminaria hyperborea populations. Portugal has taken early steps through new MPAs such as Gorringe Bank, although kelp-specific management remains limited. A shared development is the emergence of restoration trials in both countries, including reforestation efforts led by SeaForester and research projects in Portugal (e.g., Blueforests, Blueforesting, Ecokelp), alongside a reforestation programme in Galicia. Both Portugal and Galicia have established long-term, kelp-focused monitoring. In Portugal, annual surveys have run for over a decade along the western Iberian coast, including two Galician sites (A Coruña, Vigo) and three Portuguese sites (Viana do Castelo, Peniche, Sines). In Galicia, seasonal monitoring began in 2019 at eight sites in the Rías Baixas and expanded in 2022 to 28 additional reefs across ~1,600 km of coastline, including the Cantabrian Sea (Barrientos et al. 2025). These programmes also track herbivory, identified as a key driver of kelp dynamics (Franco et al. 2015; Barrientos et al. 2022; Reis et al. 2024), alongside surveys of key fauna and flora and fish herbivory. In southern Spain, monitoring also tracks macroalgal dynamics, including the spread of invasive Rugulopteryx okamurae, which competes for space with native kelp. Recognition of kelp’s ecological importance is increasing. In Portugal, a White Paper and research on blue carbon potential have helped articulate kelp’s contribution to regional carbon sequestration (Franco et al. 2025). In Galicia, studies have evaluated kelp’s importance for fishing communities and the impacts of kelp decline on small-scale fisheries (Piñeiro-Corbeira et al. 2022). This expanding evidence base is fostering cross-border coordination, including the upcoming joint Iberian Kelp Atlas led by a Spanish institution (Arroyo et al. 2025).

Key Opportunities

The EU Nature Restoration Regulation (European Union 2024) provides a major lever for scaling efforts in Spain and Portugal. Its mandate to restore 20% of degraded marine ecosystems by 2030 creates urgency and alignment across agencies. Both countries are increasingly seeking European funding for kelp initiatives, with opportunities to integrate biodiversity goals with fisheries recovery and coastal resilience. Cross-border collaboration on invasive species management—particularly in southern coastal areas—represents an immediate shared priority. Scaling will also benefit from strengthened long-term monitoring and deeper integration of local stakeholders in restoration planning.

What Has Worked To Accelerate Action

Citizen science, school workshops, media outreach, and company-led initiatives have increased public awareness in both countries. While restoration has largely remained within academia and early NGO efforts, these broader engagement activities are building the social foundations for scaling. Regional coordination is also emerging—critical given ecological connectivity, shared species, and common stressors. Continued investment in collaborative mapping, policy advocacy, and participatory science will be essential to maintain momentum.

Key Services