Off the coast of Los Angeles, the cool waters of the North Pacific converge with the warm waters of the sub-tropics. The rocky reefs, sandy plains, and submarine canyons off the coast support kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and thousands of species. Boating, fishing, and SCUBA diving are a short list of the many uses this coastal ocean supports. Historical overfishing, pollution, and alteration of the coastline have caused habitat loss.

The Bay Foundation’s (TBF’s) Ocean Resilience Program reverses these losses by restoring kelp forests and eelgrass meadows while helping endangered abalone species recover. Kelp forests and eelgrass meadows provide essential habitats for hundreds of species, sequester carbon dioxide, and support local fisheries. Abalone, long valued as seafood and for their shells, are being grown by TBF and put back into the ocean, as their populations are too few to recover alone.

These initiatives not only restore vital ecosystems but also enhance climate resilience. Kelp and eelgrass ecosystems help increase ocean pH and slow down erosion, helping mitigate the effects of climate change.

Our ongoing research and restoration efforts help us understand how to best preserve these habitats for the current and future generations.