MENDOCINO CO., 7/24/25 — Those comfortable in the ocean can help beat back the overpopulation of purple sea urchins, which dine on bull kelp, wreaking havoc on one of the state’s most important ecosystems.
According to the California Ocean Protection Council, the urchins had a heyday from 2014-2019, decimating 95% of the bull kelp forests off the Mendocino coast. Kelp forests are vital habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates.
But concerted removal efforts are now showing fruit — and Caspar Cove advocates are asking the public to join in a July sea urchin removal dive.
“We’ll be removing overabundant purple sea urchins to give our kelp forests the chance to thrive again,” the Caspar Cove Project said, “Whether you’re snorkeling, freediving, or SCUBA diving, every effort makes a real difference in protecting our coastal ecosystems.”
The event takes place Saturday, July 27 at Caspar Cove, any time during daylight hours. Contact Pete Guinosso at casparcoveproject@gmail.com for more information.