Where did the LJ kelp bed go? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Sdspeed · 10-12-2015, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

We no longer have the kelp harvest boats here, Kelpco left many years ago. Current pushes the kelp down and we do in fact have much less kelp right now than normal because of the warm water. Kelp does best in cold water and warm water weakens it so it breaks off much easier. Also grows slower in the warm water.

Jim's right, we lost them in 2005 when they moved their entire San Diego operation to the exisiting faccility they have in Scotland. In 2005 they said it cost them 1/20th the cost to harvest and process in Scotland vs. San Diego.

GregAndrew · 10-13-2015, 06:15 AM

The reason the kelp does not fare well in the warm water is that the animals and other plants that eat it thrive in the warm water.

Mahigeer · 10-13-2015, 07:30 AM

There is no kelp left at the Cabrillo Mole in Catalina either.

It has to do with the current higher temperature of the water.

Kelp grows very fast, so even if the tops were gone, it could grow back.

The warmer temp must weaken the hold fast that kelp uses to stick itself to the rocks.

Also the sea urchins can devastate a kelp forest. Lobsters keep them in check.

Zed · 10-13-2015, 09:13 AM

Sheephead keep them in check. A lobster can do nothing to an urchin.

kareem korn · 10-13-2015, 10:45 AM

Above 75 deg and it starts to die off. We lost more than half of our kelps in Carlsbad. Too bad because it took over 10 years to get some of it back.

chris138 · 10-13-2015, 12:44 PM

50% of la jolla kelp bed is currently floating on the north 9 mile bank...

JohnMckroidJr · 10-13-2015, 01:12 PM

Nobody mentioned pollution. There once were massive kelp beds off Palos Verdes and the HorseShoe Kelp off San Pedro. It was discovered that the only organism that could thrive off the pollution created by the Whites Point sewage out let were sea urchins...which also eat the kelp. Russ Izor had tried transplanting kelp from Catalina Island back to the mainland without any significant success. I would assume that as San Diego and nearby Tijuana continue to grow, similar adverse effects are occuring.

10-13-2015, 09:13 AM	#4
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Sheephead keep them in check. A lobster can do nothing to an urchin. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

10-13-2015, 06:15 AM	#2
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	The reason the kelp does not fare well in the warm water is that the animals and other plants that eat it thrive in the warm water.

10-13-2015, 07:30 AM	#3
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,908	There is no kelp left at the Cabrillo Mole in Catalina either. It has to do with the current higher temperature of the water. Kelp grows very fast, so even if the tops were gone, it could grow back. The warmer temp must weaken the hold fast that kelp uses to stick itself to the rocks. Also the sea urchins can devastate a kelp forest. Lobsters keep them in check.

10-13-2015, 10:45 AM	#5
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	Above 75 deg and it starts to die off. We lost more than half of our kelps in Carlsbad. Too bad because it took over 10 years to get some of it back.

10-13-2015, 12:44 PM	#6
chris138 donkey roper Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 968	50% of la jolla kelp bed is currently floating on the north 9 mile bank...

10-13-2015, 01:12 PM	#7
JohnMckroidJr Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 1,961	Nobody mentioned pollution. There once were massive kelp beds off Palos Verdes and the HorseShoe Kelp off San Pedro. It was discovered that the only organism that could thrive off the pollution created by the Whites Point sewage out let were sea urchins...which also eat the kelp. Russ Izor had tried transplanting kelp from Catalina Island back to the mainland without any significant success. I would assume that as San Diego and nearby Tijuana continue to grow, similar adverse effects are occuring.