Growing the Kelp Day Family: A Community-Centric Kickoff to Science and Conservation

By Jessica Pantoja, Reef Check Baja California Regional Manager

Kelp Day is an annual celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the ecological and cultural importance of underwater kelp forests and to promote collaborative efforts for their conservation and restoration. These events highlight the vital role that kelp ecosystems play in temperate coastal regions, especially along the Californias, and the urgency of addressing the combined impacts of climate change and human activity.

Through interactive exhibits, talks, art, and community activities, Kelp Day connects people of all ages and backgrounds—from divers and fishers to students, scientists, and families—creating opportunities to learn, share, and take action for these ecosystems and the ocean.

Kelp Day has become an opportunity to celebrate both the science and the communities connected to these ecosystems. Through educational activities, community events, and interdisciplinary collaborations, this celebration seeks to inspire concrete actions to protect and restore the world’s kelp forests.

In Baja California, the second annual Kelp Day was celebrated in Ensenada, at the Caracol Museum of Science. Local organizations, universities, and community groups came together to honor the kelp forests that sustain life along the peninsula’s coast. What began as an initiative of the Ecosystem Management Group for the Californias (MexCal) at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)—in collaboration with Reef Check—has now evolved into a growing community effort that bridges science, education, and conservation.

Cuidemos el Océano A.C. and the Caracol Museum of Science have played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of Kelp Day celebrations. They have promoted the integration of local fishers, dive centers, government agencies, universities, civil society organizations, as well as artists and local producers. This diversity of participants reflects the core spirit of Kelp Day: connecting people from different sectors to strengthen the collective effort to protect and restore coastal ecosystems.

The weekend of activities began on September 28th, when divers and volunteers carried out urchin removals at a local reef. Cuidemos el Oceano coordinated the removal while the MexCal team performed an underwater survey to evaluate the collective restoration actions before and after the removal. Meanwhile, the Reef Check Baja team conducted its annual monitoring survey at this historically significant site. Campo Kennedy, one of Ensenada’s most visited dive sites, used to have a lush kelp forest. Now, it is one of the best examples for restoration. The dive day set the tone for a weekend devoted to reconnecting people with the sea and the ecosystems that define Baja California’s coast.

This year, the community honored Guillermo Torres Moye as the Kelp Champion, an award given to individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the protection and restoration of kelp forests. This recognition highlights Guillermo’s dedicated efforts and passion in supporting marine conservation.

“I had never heard much about kelp before,” shared one participant. “Seeing it underwater and learning how important it is for marine life and for us changed how I look at the ocean.”

Moments like these capture what Kelp Day is all about—creating spaces where science, community, and shared experiences come together to inspire ocean stewardship.

As the celebration continues to grow, so does the network of people committed to preserving and restoring Baja California’s kelp forests. Each year, new collaborations, stories, and experiences emerge, strengthening the connection between communities and the sea. Kelp Day reminds us that meaningful conservation begins locally—with people who care, act, and work together to protect the ocean we all share.