Largest Kelp Restoration Project on the Pacific Coast Launches in Clayoquot Sound
Largest Kelp Restoration Project on the Pacific Coast Launches in Clayoquot Sound
January 30, 2026
Clayoquot Sound, BC — In early 2026, the largest kelp restoration project of its kind on the Pacific coast will begin in Clayoquot Sound. Together, Redd Fish Restoration Society, the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) First Nation and West Coast Kelp are partnering to install four large-scale In-Ocean Nursery Systems (IONS) to enhance kelp forest ecosystems within ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ haḥuułi (territory).
Spanning multiple sites and restoring kelp habitat at a scale not previously attempted on the Pacific coast; this project represents a major advancement in marine ecosystem restoration. It moves kelp habitat recovery beyond small pilot efforts and into landscape-scale implementation, testing methods designed to be replicated across British Columbia and beyond.
Kelp forests are foundational nearshore ecosystems, providing habitat, food, and nursery grounds for hundreds of species, including juvenile Pacific salmon. Yet along the west coast of Vancouver Island, kelp forests have declined due to marine heat waves, climate change, and disrupted trophic dynamics. This project directly addresses those challenges by growing locally-adapted kelp at a scale meaningful enough to deliver ecosystem-level benefits.
The project centers on the deployment of IONS—suspended mariculture-like structures that allow young kelp to grow above the seafloor—protecting them from intense grazing pressures during their most vulnerable life stages. Four IONS will be installed in ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ territory, producing native giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) that will both create immediate complex canopy-forming habitat as well as supply kelp for broader restoration efforts.
In spring 2026, kelp cultivated on the IONS will be transplanted to the seafloor at a number of additional nearshore sites. We will select transplant sites that are in the migration corridors for local salmon, maximizing the benefit to juveniles as they transition from their natal rivers to the open waters. Strategically transplanting kelp from the IONS to these sites will expand the restoration well beyond the IONS footprints. In the first year of this project, the IONS units will produce a biomass of approximately 4 metric tonnes, establishing one of the most extensive kelp recovery efforts ever undertaken on the Pacific coast.
“This project represents a shift from experimental restoration to restoration at scale,” said Emily Fulton, Marine Program Manager with Redd Fish Restoration Society. “By working in close partnership with the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ First Nation and applying lessons learned, we’re demonstrating what large-scale kelp recovery can look like on this coast.”
“We also continue to monitor wild kelp and oceanographic conditions across the region to gain an understanding of trends and factors affecting complex kelp ecosystems, and in turn, the wild salmon that rely on this habitat.”
The project is led in partnership with the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ First Nation and aligns with Nation-driven marine spatial planning priorities. ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ Guardians and community members will be directly involved in implementation, monitoring, and long-term stewardship, ensuring the work reflects Indigenous governance, knowledge systems, and cultural values.
Beyond restoration action, the project includes one of the most comprehensive kelp-associated biodiversity monitoring programs undertaken in the region. Underwater video cameras will measure changes in fish communities before and after kelp establishment, helping quantify how large-scale kelp recovery supports marine biodiversity enhancement and salmon during their critical early marine life stage.
Results from this project will inform future kelp restoration efforts locally and globally, positioning Clayoquot Sound as a leader in large-scale, Indigenous-led marine ecosystem recovery.
Media Contacts:
Emily Fulton, Marine Program Manager, Redd Fish Restoration Society
Mandala Smulders, Director of Operations, Redd Fish Restoration Society
250-726-2424
info@reddfish.org
www.reddfish.org