Kelp conservation · policy · aquaculture Site coming soon

Kelp Can Help

A free, open map of kelp projects, built to show how restoration science, policy and aquaculture depend on one another.

The full site is coming soon. Starting in North America

The idea

Three kinds of kelp work that rarely meet

Conservation and restoration, policy, and aquaculture and ecosystem-service projects (food, livestock feed, biofuel, plastics and more) mostly run in parallel. Kelp science and conservation build the evidence that gets policy passed. Policy backed by that science opens the way for aquaculture that delivers real, positive impact. The map exists to make that connection visible.

Conservation and restoration

The science that builds the evidence base.

Informs policy →

Policy

The rules and funding that science makes possible.

Unlocks aquaculture →

Aquaculture and ecosystem services

Food, feed, fuel, materials and more, grown with positive impact.

Feeds back into the evidence

Scope

True kelp only

The map covers kelp in the order Laminariales and closely related kelp-classified species, not seaweed in general. Other resources already map seaweed broadly, and staying specific is what keeps this one distinct.

Giant kelpMacrocystis pyrifera
Bull kelpNereocystis luetkeana
EgregiaFeather boa kelp

Who it is for

Each group learns from the other three

  • Researchers and conservation organizations
  • Policymakers
  • Aquaculture and industry
  • Funders
  • The general public

Global in intent and built region by region, so it never looks sparse. North America comes first.

What is coming

Free to use, with no login

  • An interactive map of roughly 100 kelp projects, weighted toward North America at launchComing soon
  • A short original analysis written from the map's own dataComing soon
  • A public form for project owners to ask to be addedComing soon

Reading

Underwater and Overlooked

Why isn't kelp getting more investment? An article on the question behind this project.

Read the article on LinkedIn →