Giant Strides for Giant Kelp​

On March 13 2022 Guardian Australia reported that local scientists, working with Eaglehawk Dive Centre, have succeeded in seeding giant kelp onto a rocky reef off the Tasman Peninsula.

The kelp propagules begin life on twine wrapped around reef boulders before attaching themselves to the reef proper, and have grown up to 3m in length in 6 months. Scott Ling and Scott Bennett from IMAS, and Mick Baron from EHDC received funding from the Sea Forest Foundation and have their sights set on a full half-hectare of lush kelp forest by next summer!

Very best wishes to everyone involved in the project, and thank you – from all of us at the TSDC.

Photo credit: David Mitchell, 2024

Info source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/13/really-worth-a-crack-bringing-tasmanias-giant-kelp-forests-back-from-the-brink