Tucked away in a picturesque bay on the south-eastern tip of Tasmania is a precious underwater field of dreams.
Around 1996, he participated in a documentary showcasing the kelp, but within two years the kelp forests had gone."It was pretty distressing to see what was happening."According to Scott Bennett, a marine scientist with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies , there's one main cause behind the kelp dieback.Mick explained that global warming has had a devastating impact on the giant kelp, as well as overgrazing from sea urchins and damage from recreational fishing.
The East Australian Current is displacing eastern Tasmania's cool nutrient-rich water and causing the giant kelp forests to sufferAnd this giant kelp isn't just any plant — Scott describes it as the "foundational engine" of coastal marine ecosystems.Locals have watched on in despair as their world-renowned"The reefs we have here are truly incredible," Scott says.
The plants are then tied with twine to PVC piping and grafted to smaller kelp species that are already established on the reef."That pins the twine in place, and the giant kelp grows quickly … and attaches itself to the rock and substrate underneath."After starting 18 months ago, the early plants have already grown to the surface, and they’re not floating away.— roughly half a football field — which Scott says is really exciting to see.