KelpFest 2022 kicks off Laguna’s summer
By Tom Osborne
They came by the hundreds, locals and visitors from other states who happened to be in town. All ages were there. A band entertained with an array of oldie California beach songs. Kudos to the Laguna Ocean Foundation for skillfully organizing this annual event that on a beautiful June day kicked off our summer season. An Acjachemen invocation reminded listeners that this celebratory environmental event was being held on their ancestral land. I saw more ethnic diversity at the KelpFest than I’ve seen in our town at any time in recent memory. Among onlookers, regard for the coast and ocean was palpable.
Volunteers staffed tables for about twenty local environmentally oriented organizations. I saw and spoke briefly with Orange County Coastkeeper leader Ray Hiemstra, a pivotal figure in seeing to it that much of Laguna’s coast was included in a highly successful Marine Protected Area nearly 20 years ago. Naturally, the Laguna Ocean Foundation was in full force, with a table and visuals that explained the importance of kelp in marine ecology. Bluebelt Foundation co-founder Mike Beanan, who told me the first KelpFest was held in 2010 and was largely the handiwork of marine biologist Nancy Caruso, gave a talk on kelp, stressing the fact that the plant’s health requires “cool, clear water.” “It grows two feet a day,” he added. Bluebelt volunteers, led by Jinger Wallace, managed a table with literature on their group. Nine Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers from the Laguna chapter alternated in staffing a table that provided crafts for children and snack samples of dried kelp for passersby.
I questioned dozens of attendees on what they either learned or would take away from the event. Regarding the oceans’ sequestering of carbon that warms the water thereby endangering kelp, 15-year-old Arizona high schooler Daniella Kemi said: “Climate change is important to my generation and future generations.” Matt Keller, a resident of Laguna Audubon, said: “I like the way the event promoted awareness about ocean ecosystems. Kelp is needed to protect marine animals.” Visiting our town from Portland, Ore., with his family, Dale Comiskey said: “I like the outdoor lifestyle here in Laguna Beach.” He noted that the weather where he lived made such a lifestyle far more problematic. Matt Tymn of Fresno, whose two young sons were with him, said: “Kelp regenerates and cleans the oceans. Warm water kills off kelp. We must dramatically reduce carbon emissions for the health of kelp and other marine life and habitat.” A young couple visiting from North Salt Lake, Utah, Patrick and Alexa Black, learned about sharks, Patrick lamenting: “The great white sharks are being sold for profit.” Beyond that, he noted “there’s so much culture here in Laguna that we don’t have back home.”
Near the end of the event, I interviewed Wendy Berube, education and outreach coordinator for the Laguna Ocean Foundation. She was trained as a marine biologist. When asked to identify the top three threats to ocean health, she answered: “Climate change is the major one,” followed by pollution, and overfishing. After a pause, she added, “We’re the problem.” Like Hiemstra and so many others there, Berube expressed praise and gratitude for Laguna’s Marine Protected Areas.
When the four-hour KelpFest closed, I felt tired but upbeat. On a picture-perfect day at Main Beach people from our town and far beyond had come together to learn about the wonders of kelp and the ocean world of which it is an integral part. Another Laguna summer was off to a great start.
Tom is a California and environmental historian. With his wife, Ginger, he co-leads the Laguna chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which advocates for a national price on carbon with proceeds rebated to households. [email protected]
