Why Kelp Forests Matter to the Future of Monterey Bay

By Marianna Leuschel, Co-Founder, Above/Below

When people think about Monterey Bay, they often picture sea otters floating among kelp fronds, dramatic coastal cliffs, abundant marine life, and a thriving tourism economy. What many don't realize is that these things are deeply connected.

Beneath the surface lies one of the most important ecosystems on the California coast: the kelp forest.

At Above/Below, we are passionate about helping people see and understand the invisible ocean systems that make life, communities, and economies possible. Kelp forests are one of those systems. They are the living foundation of Monterey Bay's ecological health and, by extension, much of its economic vitality.

Our underwater forests support an extraordinary diversity of marine life, provide habitat for commercially and recreationally important fish species, help buffer coastlines, and sustain the natural beauty that attracts millions of visitors to the region each year. They are also essential habitat for the threatened southern sea otter, one of Monterey Bay's most iconic species.

Yet these ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Marine heatwaves, shifting ocean conditions, pollution and ecological imbalances are contributing to kelp decline along many stretches of the California coast. As kelp forests disappear, the impacts ripple outward—affecting fisheries, wildlife, recreation, tourism, and the communities that depend on them.

This is why I am excited about the work emerging through Regenerative California's Future of Blue initiative.

For too long, conversations about ocean conservation and economic development have occurred in separate rooms. Future of Blue is creating a space where fishermen, scientists, entrepreneurs, tourism leaders, community organizations, government agencies, and investors can come together around a shared vision for Monterey Bay's future.

That future includes healthy kelp forests.

It includes working waterfronts that remain economically viable. It includes thriving fisheries, abundant marine life, resilient coastal communities, and new opportunities for innovation and stewardship. It also includes connecting local efforts with broader statewide initiatives focused on kelp restoration, seaweed education , marine conservation, and ocean resilience.

At Above/Below, we see tremendous opportunity in helping tell this story, not simply as a conservation story, but as an economic story, a community story, and ultimately a regeneration story.

Monterey Bay has long been recognized as a global leader in marine science and ocean conservation. Together, we have an opportunity to become something more: a model for how ecological restoration, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing can mutually benefit each other.

The health of our kelp forests is not separate from the future of Monterey Bay. In many ways, it IS the future of Monterey Bay.

This is why Above/Below is excited to collaborate with Regenerative California. We believe that by working together, we can help ensure that Monterey Bay's blue economy is built on the strength of the ecosystems that have sustained this region for generations and can lead it forward into a regenerative future.