Restoring the Underwater Forest: Tom Ford's Kelp Crusade

In this episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein welcome Tom Ford, CEO of the Bay Foundation and Director of the Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program. They discuss Ford's journey from his first ocean encounter in high school to his extensive work in kelp forest restoration. Ford shares insights into the Bay Foundation's efforts, including restoring 75 acres of kelp forest off Palos Verdes, California, reintroducing endangered white abalones, and collaborating with commercial sea urchin harvesters. The conversation covers the challenges and successes of these restoration projects, the impact of environmental changes, and the importance of continued funding and community engagement. Ford also talks about his memorable kelp dives and the significance of creating sustainable marine ecosystems. ** Links & Resources ** Sequoias of the Seas:** An award-winning documentary by Blue Frontier. https://sequoiasofthesea.org/ The Bay Foundation:** Tom Ford is the CEO of this organization. https://www.santamonicabay.org/ Santa Monica Bay National SJA Program:** Tom Ford is the director of this program. https://www.santamonicabay.org/ UCLA Ocean Discovery Center:** A small aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier where Tom Ford worked. https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/marine/ University of Rhode Island:** Where Tom Ford studied biology. https://www.uri.edu/ Bodega Marine Lab, UC Davis:** Involved in white abalone recovery efforts. https://marinescience.ucdavis.edu/bml/about Blue Frontier: bluefront.org Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild. Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/ Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.