The Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) is a STEM-based outdoor marine science school located on Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. This environment is known for its impressive kelp forests, dense underwater habitats made up of a specific type of macroalgae. Diverse marine life relies on kelp forests for food and protection including fish, invertebrates, mammals, and birds. An unprecedented marine heat wave in 2014-2016 rose ocean temperatures and decimated the kelp forests around Catalina Island. Severe storms and El Nino weather patterns spread invasive Sargassum horneri and native turf algae in the area. What was once a thriving, iconic kelp forest was reduced to only a few patches.
After a nine-year absence, kelp began returning through natural recruitment in 2023. Around the same time, CIMI launched their Kelp Restoration Project to assess changes, map and monitor restoration sites, conduct experiments to optimize kelp restoration, and share their findings. The study monitors the kelp’s recovery by tracking changes through a comprehensive mapping effort. Hydrographic data is collected from drone imagery, multibeam sonar, wave and temperature sensors, and dive surveys. Current information is compared to historical data to understand changes to kelp distribution and abundance over time. Identifying when and where the kelp returns helps researchers understand how kelp recruits naturally, the environmental factors that shape it, and how restoration efforts can enhance it. Experiments are being conducted to determine which restoration methods and best for long-term recovery.
The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium began supporting the CIMI Kelp Restoration Project in 2025 and these efforts are championed by Animal Care Manager, Erin Hoff and Senior Animal Care Specialist, Meghan Rice.
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