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NewsKPBS Public MediaSeptember 14, 2026California

California Coastal Commission Approves Ocean Rainforest Kelp Farm Off Ventura Coast

Photo: KPBS Public Media

State coastal officials voted to allow a plan to build the United States' largest kelp farm 6 miles off the Southern California coast. Ocean Rainforest plans to grow giant kelp across a 3-square-mile area of federal waters to produce soil and plant health products for local farms, with construction potentially beginning in 2027.

AquacultureAgricultureCoastal ManagementKelp FarmingEnvironment
Read the full story at KPBS Public Media

Why It Matters

The project establishes the largest commercial kelp farm in the United States, which will harvest up to 6,000 tons of kelp to supply agricultural products for California farms while altering a 3-square-mile area of off the Ventura County coast.

Key Facts

  • The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to allow a plan to build the United States' largest kelp farm.
  • The farm will be located 6 miles off the Southern California coast in federal waters.
  • The project spans a roughly 3-square-mile stretch of ocean.
  • Ocean Rainforest plans to grow giant kelp to develop products for avocado and strawberry farms.
  • The farm will be built gradually over a decade, with potential full capacity of 6,000 tons of harvested kelp.
  • Harvested kelp will be processed in the port city of Ventura.
  • Construction on the project could begin in 2027.
  • The project approval includes conditions such as a phased approach, starting in a smaller area with periodic reviews by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the commission's director.
  • Some environmentalists expressed concern over potential whale entanglements and increased boat traffic.
  • Ocean Rainforest and commercial fishermen are working on an industry support fund to address displaced commercial fishing.
  • Sportfishing will be permitted in the area, and the project may draw fish.

Who's Mentioned

locationAtlantic Ocean“Source of currently used agricultural kelp”PersonTed Travers“Chief operating officer of the avocado farm Simpatica”locationVentura“Port city where kelp will be processed”OrganizationCalifornia Coastal Commission“State agency that voted to allow the kelp farm project”OrganizationSimpatica“Avocado farm”OrganizationOcean Rainforest“Faroe Islands-based company planning to build the kelp farm”locationAlaska“Region cultivating seaweed”OrganizationTrump administration“Federal administration seeking to ramp up aquaculture in the Pacific Ocean”OrganizationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration“Designated 13 areas for aquaculture development off California and Texas”PersonGeoff Shester“Director of fishery innovation at Oceana”PersonCassidy Teufel“Deputy director at the coastal commission”locationLos Angeles“Nearby major city”OrganizationU.S. Army Corps of Engineers“Will conduct periodic reviews of the project”OrganizationOceana“Ocean conservation group”locationNew England“Region cultivating seaweed”locationCalifornia“State where the farm and farms using the product are located”locationPacific Northwest“Region cultivating seaweed”locationTexas“State with designated aquaculture areas”PersonDouglas Bush“Ocean Rainforest's director of California operations”