Navigating towards resilient relationships with kelp

As interest in kelp mariculture increases globally, we risk disrupting critical social-ecological relationships with kelps and the temperate, nearshore rocky reef ecosystems they shape. Using Canada's Pacific coast as an example, we identify opportunities for transforming kelp mariculture amidst climate change, social inequities, and socio-political uncertainty. Just transitions towards regenerative kelp economies will require balancing diverse objectives among actors, equitably reforming laws and governance structures, and integrating coastal management practices.