April 16th is Bull Kelp Day!

A time to celebrate and support all 22 species of kelp in our marine forests! 

In 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson named April 16th Bull Kelp Day. April 16th was the day Governor Ferguson signed House Bill 1631, adopting bull kelp forests as Washington’s state marine forests! Representative Greg Nance (D-Bainbridge Island) sponsored HB 1631, which was the work of a large collaboration led by Bainbridge Island high-school student Sebastian Ford, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, and the Seattle Aquarium. 

Washington’s kelp forests are made up of “canopy” kelp, which can be seen on the surface, and lesser known “understory” kelp, which are hidden below the water. There are two species of canopy kelp, like bull kelp, but 20 species of understory kelp! Like our forests on land, kelp forests are important homes, feeding grounds, and nursery areas to wildlife including forage fish, rockfish, and salmon. They are also an important part of food webs that support healthy bird and mammals—including Southern Resident killer whales. Kelp forests play a vital role in local cultures and lives. Kelp forests and the life they support have sustained and inspired various livelihoods and traditional Indigenous lifeways over generations.   

 

Unfortunately, kelp forests, like bull kelp forests, are disappearing in parts of Puget Sound, including South and Central Puget Sound. This is due to human and climate-related factors, like high temperatures. 

In 2020, 40+ partners published the Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan (Kelp Plan). This plan contains 65 actions meant to guide efforts in revitalizing Puget Sound kelp forests.

There has been a lot of progress with many of the Kelp Plan actions. However, we are still in the early stages of the plan. Even actions that have progressed still require continued and expanded support, coordination, and time to meet our goal of thriving and sustained kelp forests.

The people and partnerships are at the heart of the Kelp Plan. It is critical that we work together to continue the incredible progress in kelp conservation and recovery.    

We invite you to help the kelp by celebrating Bull Kelp Day in your own way!  

Bull kelp Day is a time to celebrate and shine a spotlight on all kelp in Washington to increase awareness and support for these vital marine forests. There is no one set way to celebrate. We encourage you to use your strengths and what inspires you to celebrate Washington’s kelp forests.  

As an example, Northwest Straits Commission will be celebrating Bull Kelp Day through art! In the days leading up to April 16th, Northwest Straits Commission will be highlighting three incredible artists and their inspiring kelp art. Please feel free to like and share these posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to increase awareness.

Need ideas on how to celebrate Bull Kelp Day? Throw a kelp themed beach clean-up, take friends to see a kelp forest, increase awareness of kelp by sharing kelp information, art, etc. with others at school or online, or tell elected officials that you care about kelp. 

You can find resources and information that can be used on Bull Kelp Day at the links listed below. 

• NOAA's Kelp Forest Ecosystem Resources  

• The Mysterious World of Bull Kelp 

• The Puget Sound Kelp Conservation and Recovery Plan  

• PSRF’s Bull Kelp Recovery Program 

Header image: Floating bull kelp bed stretching across the waters of Puget Sound. (Brooke Weigel)