The Help Our Kelp Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to fund projects that conserve, restore, and manage kelp forest ecosystems along U.S. coasts. The program is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is open to fishing industry members, colleges and universities, nonprofits, Indian tribes, state agencies, and local governments that collaborate on projects addressing regional kelp forest declines. Eligible projects can focus on ecosystem resilience, socioeconomic sustainability, kelp seeding, controlling sea urchins, monitoring ecosystem health, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, and preventing large-scale kelp loss. The bill authorizes $5 million annually from 2026 through 2030, with at least $750,000 per year reserved for Indian tribes, and requires grant recipients to provide at least 15 percent of project costs from non-federal sources, though this requirement can be waived for tribal lands. The Commerce Secretary must establish the program within 180 days of the bill's enactment and develop guidelines based on best available science and community input.
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