New law protects over half of Argentina’s kelp forests
A landmark new provincial law in Tierra del Fuego now ensures the protection of all marine forests within the province, where approximately 60% of Argentina’s kelp forests are found.
Approved unanimously, the law safeguards these vital ecosystems from unsustainable practices, whether or not they fall within marine protected areas. It extends across Tierra del Fuego’s coastal waters to the province’s 12-nautical mile jurisdictional limit.
Hidden beneath the waves, kelp forests sustain biodiversity and strengthen ocean health. They provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for countless marine species, while stabilising coastal habitats and reducing erosion. By banning wild kelp harvesting, the law addresses a critical threat to these ecosystems. Overharvesting can disrupt marine biodiversity, destabilise habitats, and undermine the role of kelp forests as carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change.
Argentine Patagonia is home to around 30% of the world’s kelp forests, a crucial sanctuary for marine life and a refuge amid global kelp forest decline.
We congratulate Por el Mar for achieving this significant milestone for ocean conservation.
