The following is a portion of Ocean Protection Councils first draft for a 5 year strategic plan that relates to the funding we've been seeking for the commercial urchin removal project. Now is the time to make public comments about the plan so please, follow the link at the bottom and let them know that the Kelp recovery project on the North coast is important to you.
Objective 2.3: Promote healthy kelp forest ecosystems along the California coast.
Proposed Actions:
●Fund scientific research and monitoring projects to investigate critical knowledge gaps regarding kelp forest ecosystem protection and recovery.
●Support and coordinate citizen science projects and volunteer restoration efforts to ensure these efforts inform management and policy decisions.
●Develop a cost-effective and robust strategy to map the current extent of California’s kelp forests to inform adaptive management of kelp forest ecosystems.
●Collaborate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Fish and Game Commission to develop coordinated state policy for kelp management in the face of changing ocean conditions.
●Leverage partnerships with state agencies, fishing and coastal communities, and other stakeholders to implement a collaborative and multi-pronged strategy for kelp forest protection and resilience.
●Fund science-based pilot projects to explore kelp forest ecosystem restoration and management approaches.
We welcome feedback on this draft plan. Public comments should be submitted to
COPCpublic@resources.ca.gov by 5pm on April 19, 2019.
