Massive kelp forests being destroyed by sea urchins in California

[Mermatron Athena]

I'm from the SF Bay Area in California, and there's a massive deforestation happening. It's scary, and I worry for our coast.

A local news paper did a story on the piece. Those who can help or share info are being asked to do so, there's a call to action in the piece.

Sheading my own sea droplets :'(


http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5487602-181/collapse-of-kelp-forest-imperils?artslide=12

[TritonsGuard]

Hmm. Very odd. However, we know very little about this phenomena. From what I read, they don't have an explanation as to why the urchin are breeding so fast. I am not surprised that we know so little. We don't live in the ocean (unfortunately), so all of this is happening out of our sight. While it is troubling to see, and we have little idea as to how we could act, remember we have only relatively recently began monitoring the ocean. It may well be a natural phenomena we are only witnessing for the first time. It could have happened several times right on the other side of the hulls of our ships, and we would have never been aware of it. It may be a sign of a change in the ecosystem. Who knows? I would like to know more before I get too alarmed.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I've always been told it's as a result of the declining otter population. It's not exactly a new problem :(


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[AptaMer]

Yes, so-called "urchin barrens" are being replaced by new forest growth in British Columbia, where otter populations are staging a comeback

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/the-remarkable-comeback-of-sea-otters-to-the-bc-coast/article19681665/

Probably the best thing California mers could do would be to support efforts to promote the thriving of sea otter populations on the California coast

[Mermaid Russet]

This happened in Florida in 1997. Not only did the flora get eaten, the lack of flora lead to erosion. :(