Community rallies to bring giant kelp back to Phillip Island

A NEW community-led project is racing to save the last giant kelp in eastern Victoria and bring the underwater forests back to Phillip Island and the Bass Coast.

Island Kelp Recovery launched on September 19, bringing together marine scientists, aquaculture experts, Traditional Owners, local businesses, community groups and volunteers.

The project aims to restore giant kelp forests, rebuild marine biodiversity and help create a more resilient future for the region’s coastal communities.

Giant kelp forests are the world’s tallest underwater forests, growing up to 20 metres high, and once thrived along Victoria’s coastline, providing food and shelter for penguins, seals and rock lobster and supporting healthy coastal fisheries.

In 2012 the giant kelp forests of south-east Australia became the first marine community listed as endangered under federal environment law, and Tasmania’s forests have declined by about 95 per cent in recent decades.

Offshore Biotechnologies chief executive Dr Chris Gillies said the project was about turning hope into action in the face of climate change.

“Giant kelp forests were once part of this coastline,” Dr Gillies said.

“We know they can recover, and now we have an opportunity to help make that happen.

“This is about bringing the right science, skills and people together, and giving nature a helping hand.”

An immediate goal is to collect kelp seedstock ahead of a marine heatwave predicted for Victoria and linked to a stronger forecast El Nino.

“The forecast marine heatwave is predicted to be the strongest on record and it’s likely to wipe out most of the remaining giant kelp in eastern Victoria,” Dr Gillies said.

“We’ve seen what happens to kelp forests and other ecosystems like coral reefs when heatwaves strike.

“It’s absolutely devastating for marine life.”

Dr Gillies said seeds could be collected before the heatwave and used to restore kelp forests once it had passed.

“With immediate action, we know we can preserve the genetic structure of the remaining giant kelp and use this to re-seed kelp forests,” he said.

“It’s worked in Tasmania and elsewhere and we are confident it can work in Gippsland too.”

The project is calling on government, philanthropy and the business community to help fund seed collection and a mobile nursery.

Rotary Phillip Island and San Remo volunteer coordinator Gea Lovell, whose club is a founding partner in the project, said it was already showing what was possible when a community came together.

“There’s something incredibly powerful about bringing people together to restore an ecosystem we thought we might have lost,” Ms Lovell said.

“Everyone has something to contribute – knowledge, skills, equipment, creativity, time or simply a willingness to get involved.”

Ms Lovell said Rotary Phillip Island and San Remo and several local businesses had already provided financial support to help establish the project.

“From local artists to tourism operators and local tradies, the community is really rallying around the project to help get it started,” she said.

“People want to be part of something positive – something that will still be here for the next generation.”

Project partners include SeaGen Aquaculture, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Streamline Media, San Remo Fisherman’s Cooperative, CC Signs and Designs, Wilderness Coastal Cruises, Antco Solutions, Victorian Sub-Aqua Group, ArtSpace Wonthaggi and Ora.

Local Kelp and Community evenings will be held in Cowes on Sunday October 11 and Wonthaggi on Monday October 12.

“There is a role for everyone who wants to be involved in helping to bring back the world’s tallest underwater forests,” Ms Lovell said.

More information is available at islandkelprecovery.org.