Help Our Kelp Act of 2025

Environmental Restoration and Resilience: The bill funds projects that address regional declines in kelp forests, focusing on long-term resilience, seeding, and connectivity (Section 2(c)(1-2)). This includes actions like predator control through urchin removal and the recovery of sunflower sea stars to support ecosystem structure (Section 2(c)(2)(D)).

Support for Local Industries and Communities: By allowing members of the fishing industry—including commercial and recreational fishermen and processors—to be eligible for grants, the bill supports those connected to these ecosystems (Section 2(b)(1)(A)). It also focuses on long-term socioeconomic resilience related to these ecosystems (Section 2(c)(2)(B)).

Empowerment of Indian Tribes: The bill provides specific avenues for Indian Tribes to participate through grants and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices into restoration and monitoring (Section 2(c)(2)(F)). Additionally, the law mandates that at least $750,000 of the annual authorized appropriation be available specifically for grants awarded to Indian Tribes (Section 2(f)(2)(A)).

Collaborative Governance: The program encourages the integration of Indigenous knowledge through consultation or the promotion of Federal or State co-management with Indian Tribes (Section 2(c)(2)(F)).

Financial Burden on Applicants: Under the matching requirement, eligible entities generally cannot receive more than 85 percent of the total project cost from Federal funding, meaning they must provide the remaining portion themselves through non-Federal means (Section 2(d)(1)).

Strict Application Requirements: To receive a grant, applicants must submit detailed information to the Administrator regarding their project, including specific criteria for monitoring effectiveness and the qualifications of the applicant to conduct the work (Section 2(b)(3)).