California coastal officials have approved plans for the United States' largest kelp farm, set to be located six miles off the Southern California coast. The decision by the California Coastal Commission allows Ocean Rainforest, a company based in the Faroe Islands, to move forward with cultivating giant kelp in federal waters.
The project aims to produce kelp for products that will enhance soil and plant health on California farms, particularly for avocados and strawberries. Douglas Bush, Ocean Rainforest's director of California operations, stated the company's intention to grow, process, and utilize the kelp within the state.
The proposal aligns with the Trump administration's broader initiative to promote commercial aquaculture. In the past year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified 13 areas off California and Texas for aquaculture development, part of a national effort to expand the U.S. seafood industry. The market for seaweed has also seen growth, with applications ranging from food to pet products, and a 2023 World Bank report projected significant market expansion by 2030.
Some environmental organizations have supported the kelp farm, highlighting seaweed's potential to absorb carbon dioxide and restore marine habitats. However, concerns have been raised by others regarding the potential for entanglement of whales in the farm's lines and disruption from increased boat traffic. Ocean Rainforest reported no whale entanglements during a two-year demonstration project.
Cassidy Teufel, deputy director at the coastal commission, noted that the farm will use rigid lines, distinct from the looser fishing lines implicated in whale entanglements, and will be situated in an area with lower marine mammal density. The farm is also expected to potentially attract fish, with sportfishing permitted in the vicinity. Provisions are being made to address potential displacement of commercial fishing operations through an industry support fund.
The California Coastal Commission's unanimous vote to approve the project included stipulations for a phased approach. Ocean Rainforest will begin with a smaller operational area and undergo periodic reviews by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the commission's director before scaling up to full capacity. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2027.
Local officials and agricultural stakeholders in Ventura, a region known for its strawberry and avocado production, have welcomed the project for its potential to create jobs and introduce a new industry. Ted Travers, chief operating officer of avocado farm Simpatica, emphasized the impracticality of sourcing agricultural kelp solely from the Atlantic Ocean.