Kelp forests (dense stands of large brown seaweed primarily of the Order Laminariales), dominate rocky reefs along temperate and subpolar coastlines around the world. These forests are considered among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth that modify local environmental conditions and provide a three dimensional habitat for an array of marine life. These forests are similar in structure to terrestrial forests, with a canopy layer that facilitates the formation of rich understorey algal assemblages, that in turn provides food and shelter for macroinvertebrates, which are food for species from higher trophic levels such as fishes.
Into the Blue: November/ December 2025
This issue of ‘Into the Blue’ covers the High Seas Treaty coming into force in January 2026, the pressures facing Antarctic krill, the World Trade Organisation’s agreement to curb harmful fishing subsidies and increased funding for the UK’s Blue Belt Programme.
22 December 2025