California’s underwater forests stand at a crossroads. For over a century, these magnificent marine ecosystems have faced relentless pressure from human interference and climate change. Today, an unlikely hero emerges from the depths to offer hope for recovery. The southern sea otter, once driven to near extinction by fur traders, has become nature’s most effective ...
Picture this: you’re floating on the surface of Monterey Bay, looking down through crystal-clear water at what should be a vibrant underwater forest. Instead, all you see is barren rock covered in purple spiny orbs stretching as far as the eye can see. This devastating transformation has become all too common along California’s coast over ...
Along the California coast, a quiet restoration is unfolding in the surge and sway of kelp. After years of marine heatwaves and runaway sea urchins, something small and surprisingly forceful is pushing the system back toward balance. Sea otters, once written off as charismatic bystanders, are reemerging as builders – animals that change the very ...
