Climate Solutions for the Ocean are urgently needed as warming seas, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse accelerate faster than most people realize, and one of the most powerful tools may be hiding just beneath the waves. In this episode, Andrew Lewin sits down with Scott Bohachyk, Director of Seaforestation at Ocean Wise, to explore how kelp forests function as underwater life support systems for the ocean, supporting fisheries, stabilizing coastlines, and helping ecosystems recover from climate stress.
Kelp forests have declined by up to 50 percent globally, with some regions losing more than 90 percent of their kelp after marine heatwaves and ecosystem imbalances. Scott explains how Ocean Wise is actively restoring kelp forests in British Columbia through hands-on seaforestation, partnerships with First Nations, innovative nursery techniques, and standardized monitoring that tracks biodiversity recovery and ecosystem health over time.
One of the most surprising insights from this conversation is that kelp restoration is not primarily about carbon credits or climate hype. Instead, the real win comes from rebuilding biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, with climate benefits becoming a powerful bonus rather than the sole goal. This shift in perspective reframes how we think about climate solutions and what truly works in the ocean.
Chapters:
00:00 Climate solutions for the ocean and why kelp forests matter
06:12 Ocean Wise and the rise of seaforestation
12:30 What kelp forests actually do for marine life
18:45 Why kelp forests are disappearing worldwide
25:10 How Ocean Wise grows kelp in restoration nurseries
31:40 The role of sea urchins and ecosystem imbalance
38:55 Why biodiversity comes before carbon credits
45:30 Indigenous partnerships and community-led restoration
52:10 The biggest challenges facing global kelp restoration
59:10 What success looks like for Seaforestation after 2030
#oceanconservation #MarineBiology #SaveOurOceans #ProtectTheOcean #OceanAwareness #BluePlanet #ConservationMatters #ScienceForChange #SustainableOceans
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