The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" establishes a grant program through NOAA to fund kelp forest conservation, restoration, and management projects, prioritizing native kelp and ecosystem resilience.
Jared Huffman
Representative
CA-2
The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" establishes a grant program within NOAA to support the conservation, restoration, and management of kelp forest ecosystems, prioritizing native wild kelp. Grants will be awarded to various entities, including the fishing industry, educational institutions, and tribal organizations, for projects that enhance ecosystem resilience, restore natural food chains, and integrate Indigenous knowledge. The federal share of funding for a project cannot exceed 85% of the total project cost, and a minimum of $750,000 per year is reserved for grants to Indian Tribes. The act authorizes $5,000,000 annually from 2026 through 2030 for these initiatives.
Help Our Kelp Act Offers $5M Annually for Coastal Ecosystem Rescue, Starting 2026
The "Help Our Kelp Act of 2025" is diving deep to rescue struggling kelp forests. This bill sets up a new grant program, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), dishing out $5,000,000 every year from 2026 to 2030 to restore these vital underwater ecosystems. The focus is on boosting the health and resilience of native wild kelp, not commercially harvested kelp, and making sure the whole ecosystem thrives.
Kelp Aid: Who Can Get It & What For?
The grants are open to a wide range of players: fishing industry folks, universities, non-profits, Indian Tribes, state agencies, and local governments. The catch? Everyone needs to work together. Think of it like a team project – applicants must consult with each other during both the planning and execution phases. The bill specifically calls out projects that tackle major kelp forest declines, with a focus on long-term health, helping communities that rely on kelp, and restoring the natural food chain (like dealing with those pesky sea urchins that munch on kelp). Section 2 of the bill details eligible projects. For instance, a local fishing collective could partner with a university and a tribal nation to re-establish kelp beds decimated by warming waters, using traditional knowledge alongside scientific monitoring.
Show Me the Money (and the Match)
Here's the financial breakdown: Uncle Sam will cover up to 85% of a project's cost. The other 15%? That's gotta come from somewhere else – but it can include "in-kind" contributions, like volunteer hours or donated equipment. The bill does allow for waivers of this matching requirement, especially for projects on tribal lands or if it creates a major roadblock. Plus, at least $750,000 each year is earmarked specifically for grants to Indian Tribes. That money is protected – if no tribal grants are awarded in a given year, it rolls over to other eligible groups, ensuring the funds are used for kelp restoration.
Real-World Reef Relief
Imagine a California coastal town where the local fishing industry has been hit hard by kelp forest loss. This bill could provide the funds to replant kelp, remove urchin overgrowth, and even help bring back critical species like the sunflower sea star, a natural urchin predator. This not only helps the kelp, but also the fish populations that rely on it, and, in turn, the local economy. It's about the whole ecosystem, from the tiniest creatures to the people who depend on a healthy ocean. The bill even emphasizes incorporating Indigenous knowledge, recognizing the deep understanding tribal communities have of these ecosystems (SEC. 2(c)(1)(F)). While the matching funds requirement could be a hurdle for some smaller groups, the waiver option and the emphasis on collaboration aim to make this funding accessible to those who need it most.