Overview of Commercial Kelp and Other Marine Algae Harvest Management
Left: Commercial edible bull kelp harvesters. Right: Commercial edible sea palm harvester. photos by G. Contolini, CASG-CDFW Fellow.
A detailed summary of California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) kelp management can be found in the Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp Enhanced Status Report.
CDFW manages all commercial kelp and other marine algae harvest statewide. All commercial harvesters of kelp and other marine algae must purchase an annual Kelp Harvesting and Drying License and abide by commercial algae harvest regulations in California Code of Regulations Title 14 (CCR T-14), sections 165 and 165.5 which are also described in the California Commercial Fishing Digest (PDF)California Commercial Fishing Digest(opens in new tab).
Harvest may be restricted in some state marine protected areas, marine recreational management areas, special closures, and state marine parks. Commercial harvest, including disturbance, possession, or cutting of eelgrass (Zostera species), or surfgrass (Phyllospadix species) is prohibited (CCR T-14, Section 165(b)(4)).
The commercial harvest of giant and bull kelp for non-edible purposes is managed spatially in 87 administrative kelp beds that span much of California's coastline including the Channel Islands. The commercial harvest of all marine algae for edible purposes, including giant and bull kelp, is managed spatially using fishing blocks.
Zoomable Map of California Administrative Kelp Beds, Fishing Blocks, and State Marine Protected Areas, Marine Recreational Management Areas, and Special Closures. Maps can be downloaded in PDF format. Additional interactive maps are available in MarineBIOS, a CDFW marine and coastal data viewer.
Returning commercial Kelp Harvesting License holders can purchase an annual license by contacting CDFW's License and Revenue Branch at (916) 928-5822 to request an application or purchase a license online. If purchasing a license for the first time, contact CDFW before obtaining a commercial Kelp Harvesting License at kelp@wildlife.ca.gov.
Commercial Kelp Harvester's (PDF Form) or Commercial Edible Seaweed/Agarweed Aquatic Plant Harvester's (PDF Form) Monthly Reports must be submitted regardless of whether harvest occurs (CCR T-14, Section 165(b)(3)). Monthly harvest reports and royalty fees shall be submitted on or before the 10th day of each month following the month to which the reports pertain. Harvest reports that are mailed shall be postmarked on or before the 10th of the month following the month to which reports pertain. Original monthly harvest reports and associated harvest royalty payments may be delivered using the following options:
Postal Delivery:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Accounting Services Branch/Cash Receipts
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
In-person Delivery:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Accounting Services Branch/Cash Receipts
715 P. Street, 16th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regulates all commercially manufactured and processed food for human consumption in California. For more information on CDPH regulations, requirements, and permitting, refer to the CDPH website.
Recent Amendments to Commercial Regulations
The California Fish and Game Commission has adopted regulation amendments and new regulations for commercial harvest of kelp and other marine algae (effective January 1, 2026). The amended regulations include standard regulations and temporary changes.
Bull Kelp
The amended regulations extend the sunset date pertaining to the closure of commercial bull kelp harvest in Mendocino and Sonoma counties, current harvest restrictions, and weekly reporting for bull kelp in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. The changes to the bull kelp regulations have a goal of protecting and maintaining the remaining bull kelp beds in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties. The temporary nature of the bull kelp regulations provides an interim management measure to protect the resource while allowing CDFW, Tribes, industry, and interested stakeholders to continue to collaboratively develop a comprehensive management framework for kelp, the Kelp Restoration and Management Plan.
The changes aim to reduce harvest pressure on the remaining bull kelp populations, which continue to be in decline in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
The revised regulations include CCR T-14, sections 165, 165.5, and 705.1. For more information on the new and/or amended regulations, please refer to the California Fish and Game Commission website.
Bull Kelp Harvest Prohibited in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
Commercial bull kelp harvest, regardless of use, is temporarily closed in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Refer to CCR T-14, Sections 165 and 165.5 for more information.
Bull Kelp Harvest Quotas in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties
Per existing regulation, limited commercial harvest of bull kelp in Humboldt and Del Norte counties is only allowed for use as edible seaweed for human consumption only.
Commercial harvesters of bull kelp for human consumption must abide by an annual quota between January 1 and December 31 for the fishery in Del Norte and Humboldt counties combined not to exceed four tons (8,000 pounds) wet weight. Weekly harvest reporting is required in addition to monthly harvest reports to allow CDFW to monitor the harvest and avoid exceeding the annual four-ton harvest quota. Weekly harvest reports shall be submitted to kelp@wildlife.ca.gov. Any harvest in excess of the annual overall fishery quota or allotments must be forfeited to CDFW by using the Release of Property form, DFW 1108 (NEW 07/01/22) (PDF). The fishery annual quota and weekly harvest reporting are temporary. Commercial bull kelp harvesters in Del Norte and Humboldt counties must familiarize themselves with the county-specific regulations in CCR T-14, Section 165(c)(9). CDFW will post status updates of reported commercial bull kelp harvest on this page, below:
January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 Commercial Bull Kelp Reported Harvest in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties Combined a, b
| Date |
Cumulative Reported Harvest (pounds wet weight) |
Amount of Quota Remaining (pounds wet weight) |
| 1/1/2026 |
0 |
8,000 |
- Quota for commercial bull kelp harvest allowed for human consumption only from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, or until the overall fishery quota is met.
- Table updated December 30, 2025 to reflect January 1, 2026.
Commercial Marine Algae Harvest Data
Total annual commercial harvest for giant and bull kelp, 1931-2021. The majority of harvest is giant kelp. Data from Commercial Kelp Harvesters Monthly Reports and CDFW (2001).
Total annual commercial harvest for all species of edible seaweed/agarweed, 2000-2021. Data from Commercial Edible Seaweed/Agarweed Aquatic Plant Harvesters' Monthly Reports.
Commercial Sea Palm Harvest
Sea palm, Postelsia palmaeformis. CDFW photo by R. Flores Miller.
Sea Palm (Postelsia palmaeformis) Harvest Methods, Incidental Take Restrictions, and Closures
Amendments to commercial harvest regulations for human consumption (edible seaweed) define specific harvest methods for sea palm that allow for consistency of methods across all harvesters and potentially allows for the sea palm blades to regrow and reproduce. Allowable harvest cut location shall be determined by locating the grooved area on the blade and cutting the blade at least 1.5 inches away towards the terminal tip of the blade. Harvesters may not take detached, drift, or beached individuals.
Incidental take of marine invertebrates during sea palm harvest is restricted. No marine invertebrate species 1 inch or greater in width shall be taken or possessed while harvesting sea palm as authorized in this section. Sea palm must be inspected for marine invertebrate species less than 1 inch in width prior to transport. Unless take is otherwise prohibited, marine invertebrate species less than 1 inch in width may be incidentally taken if every effort is made to return them near their habitat of origin upon harvest.
Additional regulatory amendments prohibit sea palm harvest, no sea palm may be cut, disturbed, or possessed, in the southern portion of its range from the 37° 11’ north latitude line at Pigeon Point in San Mateo County southward to the United States-Mexico border due to concerns around the loss of sea palm and lack of recovery.
Additional amended harvest reporting regulations pertaining to all commercial harvest of marine algae are provided in the updated Commercial Kelp Harvester (PDF Form) and Commercial Edible Seaweed/Agarweed Aquatic Plant Harvester (PDF Form) Monthly Reports.
Commercial harvesters must familiarize themselves with the updated regulations in CCR T-14 Section 165.
Sea Palm Harvest Method
Depiction of location to cut sea palm (Postelsia palmaeformis) blades. The red line indicates the location to cut sea palm blades. To determine the area to cut, locate the grooved area on the blade and cut the blade at least 1.5 inches away towards the terminal tip of the blade. CDFW image by R. Flores Miller.