Missing Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Bed

Observation by David Harmes:

The 1st Channel Marker, coming into Larsen Bay, is on a large rock. It appears to be in the middle of the channel, but is a go on either side. On this large rock there normally is a bull kelp bed, with 10 or more sea otters in and around the kelp bed. Most times I have to watch out for kelp because some stray into the navigation channel, sometimes all the way to marker number 2 (the kelp can block the cooling water intake). At least a month ago, maybe back into August, the kelp started to disappear. About the same time the kelp disappeared, the cannery dragged a huge tank in the beach, facing the channel. What is claimed is it was a sewage tank. However, it came out the fuel tank farm, at the end of the building on the left. People talked about the sludge on the beach between the cannery store and fuel farm, where the tank came from.

Mandy Lindeberg, Fisheries Research Biologist with NOAA Fisheries, writes:

Its tough for me to tell what happened at this location but I can say Bull kelp beds are known to go through cycles where they can disappear (~5-7 years) but usually re-establish themselves in a few years. Also, a strong cohort of urchins could have moved into the area and grazed back the bed. I think it would have to be a pretty significant oil spill to impact the bed. An acute scenario for oiled kelp beds would be where the oil actually covers the thallus (plant) and it starts to decay from the contact and the fronds can no longer photosynthesize. A chronic scenario for oiled kelp beds would be reproductive failure in future seasons and the bed can not maintain or re-establish itself for the long-term. 10/19/2018

Joy Britt, Contamination Support Program Manager at ANTHC, writes:

If there appears to be a sheen on the water or an oil release I would encourage the observer to report it to DEC Spill Response for further investigation. This can be done anonymously, though that is not encouraged in case DEC needs more details. 10/17/2018

Comments from LEO Editors:

This observation has been forwarded to the Kodiak Area Native Association. Erica Lujan