The Oregon Kelp Alliance

Exciting News! 🌊 After meters of diving, long hours analyzing data—both historical and new—we’re proud to say it’s done! On 10.23.2024, the Oregon Kelp Alliance is releasing our latest status report on the health and future of Oregon’s vital kelp forests. Stay tuned to learn how we're making waves in protecting our oceans! 🌿💙 ⁠ ⁠ #blueeconomy #marinetechnology #oceanography #sustainability #renewableenergy

🌊 **ORKA: Try. Act. Do.** 🌿⁠ ⁠ At the Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA), we believe that doing our part is key to driving global change. From protecting the vital kelp forests off Oregon’s coast to helping pycnopodia recover, our work is about more than research—it's about action. Follow our journey as we try, act, and do everything in our power to create a better future for these delicate ecosystems and our planet. ⁠ ⁠ Together, we can make a real impact! 💪🌍 #GlobalChange #SaveTheKelp #ORKAAction #TryActDo⁠

This year, we've taken our drone surveys to new heights, capturing stunning footage of kelp restoration sites at Cape Foulweather, Cape Arago, Port Orford, and Brookings. Each flight is helping us protect and revitalize these vital ecosystems. ⁠ ⁠ We're proud to say this is our fourth year of drone surveys, and every season brings us closer to restoring Oregon's beautiful coastlines. Plus, all these studies will be released soon in our upcoming **Status Report**, so stay tuned! ⁠ ⁠ #OregonCoast #DroneFootage #KelpRestoration #MarineConservation #WomenInSTEM #PortlandScience #OregonEcoWarriors #KelpIsLife #StatusReportComingSoon

This urchin boat is diving for red urchins today, but for how long? Our kelp forests are in jeopardy, and without balanced ecosystems, this vital work—and the local jobs it supports—are in jeopardy too. ⁠ ⁠ Believe it or not, a healthy kelp forest means a healthy urchin fishery. But while red urchins are being sustainably harvested, purple urchins are out of balance, threatening these underwater forests and putting fisheries and coastal economies at risk. 🌍⚖️ Protecting and restoring balance is more crucial than ever to safeguard the future of our oceans and communities.⁠ ⁠ Without healthy ecosystems, sustainable harvests and jobs are at stake.⁠ ⁠ #SustainableFisheries #UrchinHarvest #EcosystemInJeopardy #KelpRestoration #MarineConservation #OceanEconomy #KelpForests #SupportLocalJobs

Spent the day at the Oregon State Capitol discussing the need to protect our coastal kelp forests. These ecosystems are crucial for marine life and climate health. Big thanks to @RepMarkOwens,@RepCourtBoice, @RepKhanhPham, @SenKathleenTaylor, @SenDavidBrockSmith, @SenMichaelDembrow, @SenFloydProzanski and @RepCyrusJavadi for taking the time to talk with us about our work. #KelpConservation #OregonCoast #OregonKelpAlliance

Our oceans have lost over 38% of their kelp forests worldwide. These vital ecosystems provide shelter and food for countless marine species. It's time to take action and protect our underwater forests before it's too late! 🌊🌿 ⁠ ⁠ Please help gain awareness of this problem by sharing this post and visiting www.oregonkelp.com to learn more and support conservation efforts. Together, we can make a difference! 💪⁠ ⁠ #SaveOurKelp #OceanConservation #ocean #nature #ourocean2024

Kelp forests are essential marine ecosystems that thrive in shallow waters (<30 m) on rocky coastlines, primarily in subpolar to temperate zones. These incredible forests cover around 24% of the world’s coastlines, providing crucial habitats for countless marine species and helping to maintain healthy ocean ecosystems. 🌱🐋🦑 By protecting kelp forests, we’re also protecting the marine life and biodiversity that depend on them. #Kelp #MarineConservation #CoastalEcosystems #ProtectOurOceans #OregonKelp #EnvironmentalAwareness #MarineLife

We spend a lot of time studying Urchins, they can tell us a lot about what's going on in the ecosystem around us. They're also quite fun to look at, little prickly balls of curiosity. ⁠ ⁠ Did you know that urchins are biological indicators in the marine world? We can learn a lot about what's going on in the oceans by studying these hungry little creatures. ⁠ ⁠ #MarineLife #OceanConservation #SeaUrchins #ProtectOurOceans #BiologicalIndicators #KelpForest #UrchinResearch

Summer may be winding down, but our work is just getting started!⁠ ⁠ We want to give a warm welcome to all our new followers—your support means the world to us! As we prepare to release our Status Report and wrap up our summer intern projects, we're reflecting on all the progress made during these busy months.⁠ ⁠ Looking ahead, we're thrilled to share some exciting new projects coming this fall. Stay tuned for updates!⁠ ⁠ #OregonKelp #EnvironmentalConservation #KelpRestoration #SaveOurOceans #PNWCommunity #MarineLife #ClimateAction #FallProjects #SustainableFuture

🌊 **Kelp Forests: A Critical Balance in Our Oceans** 🌊⁠ ⁠ According to our 2022 study, we’ve lost over 44% of the kelp in the Depoe Bay area. This alarming decline has far-reaching implications for our marine ecosystems, but there’s still a glimmer of hope.⁠ ⁠ Gray whales, which continue to grace our coasts, are drawn to areas where kelp thrives. These intelligent creatures rely on kelp forests because the zooplankton they feed on prefers the protection and resources these underwater forests provide. As a result, gray whales often forage near kelp-rich areas where their prey is more abundant.⁠ ⁠ This delicate balance between species underscores the importance of protecting and restoring our kelp forests. By safeguarding these vital ecosystems, we can help ensure that both the kelp and the marine life that depends on it continue to thrive.⁠ ⁠ As urban dwellers, we may feel far removed from these natural processes, but our choices and actions can make a difference. Let’s be part of the solution. 🌱💙⁠ ⁠ #KelpForest #DepoeBay #OceanConservation #MarineBiodiversity #GrayWhales #PortlandEco #SustainableLiving #WomenInScience #EnvironmentalJustice