Victoria's giant kelp forests face 75-80% wipeout from El Niño
Marine biologist Chris Gillies is leading an urgent project to map and collect seeds from Victoria's giant kelp before El Niño wipes out most survivors.
Giant kelp forests once lined Victoria's coast. They grew up to 30 metres tall and formed dense underwater canopies.
Giant kelp forests are now nationally threatened. Climate-linked heatwaves, ocean current changes and invasive species drive the decline.
Chris Gillies is leading the Island Kelp Recovery project. He is mapping where forests once thrived using accounts from traditional owners and long-term residents.
The team is collecting and banking seeds from surviving plants. They are doing this before the looming El Niño heatwave.
Scientists expect the heatwave may kill about 75 to 80 percent of Victoria's remaining giant kelp. Once conditions ease, the stored seeds will re-establish the forests.
These forests are crucial habitat for seals, penguins, rock lobsters and other marine life.
- up to 30 metres
- Giant kelp height
- 75 to 80 percent
- Expected loss from El Niño
- Chris Gillies
- Project leader
- Rotary Phillip Island and San Remo
- Collaborating organisations
Why it mattersKelp forests are foundational marine ecosystems; their collapse threatens biodiversity and fisheries across southern Australia.
AustraliaVictoria's kelp decline signals climate impacts on Australia's marine ecosystems and threatens commercial rock lobster fisheries.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
