Kelp Forest Restoration Annual Report July 2016 – June 2017 (Year 4)

The purpose of this project is to reduce the density of purple sea urchins to two per square meter within the boundaries of sea urchin barrens off the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This will allow for the recruitment and development of giant kelp and other species of macroalgae. This project will reduce sea urchin grazing pressure to restore biogenic habitat to rocky reefs that historically supported kelp forests. This will increase the spatial and temporal stability, biomass and production associated with the kelp forest/rocky reefs on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This report provides a Year 4 project update.