California officials allow plans for the country’s biggest kelp farm to move forward

California officials have approved plans to construct the United States' largest kelp farm off the Southern California coast. Ocean Rainforest, based in the Faroe Islands, aims to grow giant kelp in federal waters near Ventura County to create products that can improve soil and plant health in avocado and strawberry farms. The project is part of a broader effort to promote commercial aquaculture in the Pacific Ocean, following a 2020 push by the Trump administration to develop the U.S. seafood industry.

Ocean Rainforest plans to gradually build the farm over a decade, with the potential to harvest up to 6,000 tons of kelp at full capacity. While some environmentalists are concerned about potential impacts on marine life, Ocean Rainforest claims no whales were entangled during a two-year demonstration project. The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to allow the project, with conditions including a phased approach and periodic reviews.