Help Our Kelp Act of 2025

The Help Our Kelp Act would require the Secretary of Commerce to create a grant program aimed at conserving, restoring, and managing kelp forest ecosystems. The bill would authorize approximately $5 million annually for projects addressing kelp forest decline, particularly along the coasts of Northern California and Southern Oregon where more than 95 percent of kelp forests have been damaged over the last 50 years. The legislation would prohibit commercial harvesting of wild kelp while supporting restoration efforts and research.

Kelp forests are important marine ecosystems that support hundreds of species, protect coastlines from erosion, sustain commercial fisheries, and provide habitat for salmon and other wildlife. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and is currently under committee consideration. If enacted, it would provide federal funding to help address the decline of these ecosystems caused by rising ocean temperatures, sea star wasting disease, and other environmental pressures.