Seatrees has released its newest film: Holdfast Together: Keepers of California’a Kelp. It is a story about the divers, scientists, and restoration partners who are working to bring Northern California’s kelp forests back to life. Once thriving underwater forests, these ecosystems have face dramatic decline in recent years. But a dedicated community is striving hard to restore the kelp forests.
Through urchin removal, scientific monitoring, and efforts to recover the sunflower sea star, these partners are working side-by-side to rebuild one of the ocean’s most vital ecosystems. The film highlights the collaboration behind the work, featuring the efforts of the Reef Check Foundation, the Purple Urchin Removal Projects, and the Sunflower Star Laboratory.
Kelp forests support and extraordinary web of marine life, help protect coastlines, and play an important role in ocean health. The recovery depends on people willing to get in the ocean and do the hard work of restoration.
“When Steve Sutton and his son Ryland Sutton as his escort kayaker, and I swam from Cabrillo Beach to Redondo Beach, we swam literally over and through the 24 km long kelp forest around the Palos Verdes Peninsula, recalled Steven Munatones. “We swam – both in the northwards direction, and two weeks later, in the southwards direction – literally through an aquarium. We swam through and over so much vibrant marine life, although we did not see blue whales humpback whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, minke whales, fin whales, or lemon sharks in or near the giant kelp beds, there were dolphin of various types, sea lions, seals, sea otters, and so many colorful fish, including Garibaldi. It was so enjoyable to be so interactive with such a dynamic world beneath the ocean surface.”
Together, these partners are helping restore one of the ocean’s most vital ecosystems — supporting marine biodiversity, coastal resilience, and the future of our oceans. Readers can support kelp restoration at www.seatrees.org
Sea Dreamers founder Catherine Breed may also experience the vibrancy of California’s kelp forests on her 1,448 km Swim California along the coastline of the state of California from the Oregon border to the USA-Mexican border, depending on how close she swims to shore during her 4-month solo stage swim beginning in June 2026.
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