Center for Biological Diversity Seeks Endangered Species Protection for West Coast Bull Kelp

​The Center for Biological Diversity has submitted a petition to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to grant endangered status to bull kelp.

If listed, the take of bull kelp would become prohibited, meaning that anyone who is farming, possessing, or selling bull kelp would no longer be allowed to do so, regardless of state permitting.

At this time, the ESA will perform their own internal analysis of the petition and, therefore, comments are not yet being accepted. Though the ESA may reject the petition altogether for insufficiency in meeting their criteria, OAA members who feel they may be impacted by the potential listing of bull kelp should study the petition and submit draft comments, ideally with scientific backing, refuting the petition to the California Aquaculture Association at [email protected].