How kelp forests off California are responding to an urchin takeover

95 percent of northern coast forests have been lost, but sea otters are helping farther south

urchin barren

Proliferating urchin barrens, such has this one off northern California, have destroyed kelp forest all along the state’s coast.

Katie Sowul/CDFW

Joshua Smith has been diving in kelp forests in Monterey Bay along the central coast of California since 2012.