Blue
Harmony

The Caspar Cove Project (know as The Watermen’s Alliance Sea Urchin Removal Event at Caspar Cove) is a community-driven initiative aimed at restoring the balance of marine ecosystems and ocean health by removing overabundant purple sea urchins from the waters of Caspar Cove in Northern California.

Bull kelp forests, once abundant along the coast of Northern California, are now facing rapid decline attributed to factors exacerbated by climate change. In 2014, the bull kelp forests experienced unprecedented stress, leading to widespread die-offs and dramatic declines in kelp coverage. We have lost over 90% of bull kelp due to ocean climate change. This has become a pressing concern for ocean conservationists, posing significant challenges to marine ecosystems and biodiversity. One of the significant challenges contributing to the loss of bull kelp is the proliferation of sea urchins. These voracious grazers feed on kelp. As bull kelp declines, sea urchin populations have surged, creating a destructive feedback loop known as a “sea urchin barren”, where vast expanses of the seafloor are devoid of kelp and dominated by sea urchins.

Various conservation efforts, like the Caspar Cove Project, are underway to combat the declining bull kelp and the proliferation of sea urchins.