ReKelp
Sea the Change.
A student-led initiative restoring kelp forests worldwide.
A student-led initiative restoring kelp forests worldwide.
The vital role of kelp forests and why they're disappearing
Kelp forests are one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, growing up to 2 feet per day while supporting life and stabilizing our climate. These underwater forests:
In the past 50 years, over 40% of the world’s kelp forests have been lost, with some regions, like Northern California, seeing 95% declines. British Columbia’s coasts are also at risk due to:
Simple daily actions that help protect and restore our kelp forests
Kelp forests are currently facing multiple threats including climate change, overfishing, and pollution. Although these challenges can be overwhelming to tackle, the steps that are taken collectively by us can bring about significant change. Every decision towards sustainability contributes to the alleviation of pressure on these vital ecosystems.
Learn More Ways to Help
90%
of kelp forests lost in some regions
ReKelp was founded in 2025 by high school student Peter Cui after conducting research on kelp forest decline for the Harvard International Review (link to article). Through this work, he uncovered the devastating impacts of kelp loss not only on global ecosystems, but also on local fisheries, coastal economies, and the communities that depend on them. What began as a student passion project focused on spreading awareness has since evolved into an initiative of finding innovative solutions to restore our underwater forests.
Kelp forests are disappearing at alarming rates due to climate change, pollution, and overgrazing. These underwater forests are critical for marine biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection.
We believe in scalable, low-cost solutions that communities worldwide can implement. By open-sourcing our designs and training the next generation of ocean stewards, we're creating a global network of kelp restoration.
Combining marine biology with student-led engineering to create scalable kelp restoration tools
Our land-based nursery system grows juvenile kelp in controlled conditions, optimizing growth before ocean deployment. Modular tanks can be set up anywhere with access to seawater.
Our autonomous deployment system precisely plants juvenile kelp at optimal locations. GPS-guided and solar-powered, it can restore acres of ocean floor with minimal human intervention.
Sustainable harvesting from healthy kelp specimens under controlled conditions.
Juvenile kelp grows in our land-based tanks for 6-8 weeks until ready for deployment.
Floating seeder precisely plants juvenile kelp at optimal restoration sites.
Visualizing kelp canopy changes from 1984 to present
Average global kelp decline since 1980
Loss in Northern California since 2014
Recovery in restored areas (3-year average)
Support Kelp Forest Alliance, a global nonprofit leading kelp restoration efforts. Your donation funds large-scale restoration projects, scientific research, and community engagement programs worldwide.
Give TodayMore productive than land forests
Marine species depend on kelp
Of coastal carbon stored in kelp
Annual ecosystem value globally