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Lease: California Kelp Research

Location

Central Coast, California, USA

Description

This case study presents an example of leasing subtidal kelp forests for scientific research purposes. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has leased two kelp beds (totaling four square miles) off the coast of California for research and conservation purposes. These beds include approximately 1,700 acres of kelp along 15 miles of the Big Sur coast.

There are 89 state-defined kelp beds along the California coast. The kelp beds are designated as no-take areas, open harvest areas, and areas eligible for leasing. While 38 kelp beds are available for lease, only 9 are currently leased, 2 by TNC and 7 by abalone farmers. Historically, the major commercial leaseholder (ISP Alginates) harvested kelp for algin. Kelp leases are now used solely for obtaining kelp for abalone aquaculture feed.

In 2004, TNC sought to lease one kelp bed from the state and to sublease another bed from ISP Alginates (then the state’s largest kelp leaseholder) in order to examine the nursery role of kelp forests and their canopies for rockfish and other marine species. Envisioned as a California test case for marine research and conservation leasing, the study required permission for experimental manipulation, as well as the establishment of control sites. ISP agreed to sublease Kelp Bed 209, and the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) agreed to lease bed 214 to TNC.

Map of study sites. Green dots represent control and experimental sites within each bed. Bottom two beds were leased by TNC.

Researchers at TNC and the University of California - Santa Cruz (UCSC) used both leases for the purpose of experimentally removing kelp canopies and examining the impacts on kelp communities. They sought to determine whether the removal of kelp canopies affected biodiversity and how any detrimental impacts might be reduced.

Subsequently, ISP decided to cease harvesting in California and chose not to renew any of its leases. TNC applied to the FGC to lease bed 209 directly, and the FGC again granted approval of the leases. The researchers have worked successfully in partnership with the largest remaining harvester, The Abalone Farm Inc.

Transaction Summary

Leases	2 kelp leases
Area	2,710 acres (1,100 hectares)
Resource	Kelp forest habitat covering 1,700 acres (690 hectares)
Dates/duration	3 yrs, renewable, from 2005
Fee/price	approximately $5,800
Location	Kelp beds 209 and 214 off central California coast
Use	Research
Grantor	California Fish and Game Department
Grantee	The Nature Conservancy

Lessons Learned

Leases can be used to foster research partnerships.
Tracking kelp leases is not a high priority for the state.
During the Marine Life Protection Act process (a state MPA process) many managers and stakeholders were surprised to learn that proprietary rights previously granted by the state often trump most other forms of management.

Cost Summary

In addition to lease costs of approximately $5,800, research costs have been about $100,000 per year.

Kelp bed map taken from a DFG environmental document (State of California, 1996)

Funding Sources

Resources Legacy Fund

Lead Organizations

The Nature Conservancy of California
The Nature Conservancy - Global Marine Team
Mike Beck, Senior Scientist
100 Shaffer Road, LML
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tel: 831-459-1459
Email: mbeck@tnc.org

University of California-Santa Cruz
Mark Carr
100 Shaffer Road, LML
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tel: 831-459-1459

Partners

The Abalone Farm, Inc.
PO Box 136
Cayucos, CA 93430
Tel: 877-367-2271

Left: Kelp harvester, Abalone Farm Inc., works with UCSC/TNC researchers to experimentally remove kelp canopy in Bed 209. Right: Kelp forest. Photos: Kendra Karr

Authorizing Agencies

California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 916-653-4899
Email: fgc@fgc.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Game
Dennis Bedford, Marine Region
4665 Lampson Ave., Suite C
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Tel: 562-342-7172
Fax: 562-342-7139
Email: dbedford@dfg.ca.gov