California just approved the largest kelp farm in the country, and it’s headed for the ocean about six miles off the Ventura County coast. The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to let Ocean Rainforest, a company based in the Faroe Islands, grow giant kelp across roughly three square miles of federal water. At full capacity, the operation could harvest up to 6,000 tons of kelp a year, all processed in Ventura and used by California farms.
The target customers are growers like avocado and strawberry farms, which see kelp as a valuable input for healthier soil and stronger crops. The project also fits the Trump administration’s broader push to expand U.S. aquaculture, and backers say it helps the country catch up to Asia’s long-standing dominance in the seaweed market. Construction could begin as soon as 2027, done in phases with periodic reviews.
Not everyone is on board. Environmental groups including Oceana raised concerns about whale entanglements and added boat traffic in what they describe as a wild, important stretch of ocean. Officials and the company countered that the offshore location and taut-line design reduce those risks. As California watches its first major kelp farm take shape, the question is whether this becomes a model for sustainable ocean farming or a cautionary tale. What do you think: should California go big on kelp?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
