Kelp Forests, Youth Leaders, and Coastal Resilience

Below the surface of Barkley Sound, the husmin (nuučaanuł for kelp) sway with the rhythm of the ocean. Towering fronds stretch toward the sunlit surface like trees in an underwater forest. Juvenile salmon seek shelter before braving the open ocean. A lone sea otter dives for t̓uc̓up (sea urchin). Life pulses in every direction. 

Kelp forests are foundational ecosystems. They shelter and feed marine species, protect coastlines by buffering wave energy, and act as powerful carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere.  

Redd Fish Restoration has been collecting baseline kelp data within the ḥaaḥuułi (territory) of t̓uk̓ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet) Nations since 2021, and in the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) and ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht) Nations’ territory since 2023. This data will help us understand the health and distribution of kelp ecosystems in Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. Each year, our team hits the water, combining drone surveys with hands-on sampling. We monitor kelp canopy cover, assess health indicators and track ocean conditions across dozens of sites—identifying habitat trends along the way. But, this work is about more than data—it’s about relationships. Last summer, we brought Indigenous youth from the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ Nation Warrior Program out on the water. Together with Nation Guardians, we paddled through kelp beds, measured fronds, and shared stories of stewardship. 

- Nation Warrior Program youth | Photo: Jill Nancy

The youth learned how ocean temperatures shape husmin growth, how climate change is shifting marine conditions, and how husmin supports wild s'úqʷay (salmon)—an animal deeply woven into the cultural and ecological fabric of this coast. It was a day of knowledge-sharing, skill-building, and connection between people and places. 

We work alongside First Nation Guardians to deepen our understanding of these ecosystems. Input from each of the Nations ensures that our efforts reflect both traditional knowledge and local stewardship priorities while also encouraging— more youth to take up this work in their own ḥaaḥuułi.  

This long-term monitoring helps identify trends in ecosystem health, guide habitat restoration priorities, and strengthen local capacity for stewardship. It’s also sparking new questions: Where is kelp most resilient to climate change? What indicators signal habitat decline? And what restoration techniques are best suited to help kelp thrive in the future? 

- Kelp monitoring in the MIT 100 Convertible PFD | Photo: Graeme Owsianski

In some areas, that next step has already begun. In partnership with t̓uk̓ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation Government) and West Coast Kelp, Redd Fish is piloting innovative kelp restoration techniques. These novel restoration trials are increasing nearshore habitat complexity and supporting local biodiversity. This pilot project is providing important restoration feasibility data and best practices that can be applied on a larger scale, including in a new restoration project in ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) territory in Clayoquot Sound this summer.  

Combining traditional knowledge from First Nation partners with environmental DNA (eDNA) studies, long-term data, and other ongoing research, Redd Fish is identifying key restoration indicators and supporting First Nation-led marine projects. 

We can learn a lot from a kelp forest— they remind us how to adapt, stay resilient, and remain rooted—even as the tides shift. 

Learn more about Redd Fish Restoration Society