State marine forest

AN ACT Relating to establishing bull kelp forests as the official 1
state marine forest; adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW; and 2
creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) As the foundational species of the 5
evergreen state's underwater forests, bull kelp is vital to 6
Washington's culture, commerce, and ecology. Together with understory 7
kelp, other floating kelps, and eelgrass meadows, bull kelp forests 8
provide a mosaic of habitats and food that support the state's marine 9
species like orcas, salmon, rockfish, and pinto abalone, and serve to 10
sustain commercially and culturally important marine fisheries. Bull 11
kelp holds deep cultural significance for tribal nations, continuing 12
to sustain and support tribal communities today as it has for 13
generations. For tribes, access to healthy bull kelp ecosystems 14
within their usual and accustomed grounds, stations, and traditional 15
areas is essential not only as a source of food and traditional 16
materials, but also for spiritual, cultural, and economic practices 17
that have long depended on the kelp forest's vitality. Recognizing 18
this, this act explicitly respects and upholds the treaty rights of 19
Indian tribes. Nothing within this act is intended to alter or 20
infringe upon these inherent rights.21
H-0677.2
HOUSE BILL 1631
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Nance, Mena, Griffey, Salahuddin, Low, Parshley,
Hunt, Walsh, Ramel, Paul, Duerr, Bernbaum, Chase, Peterson, Shavers,
Ryu, McEntire, Richards, Reed, Kloba, Simmons, Tharinger, Zahn,
Thomas, and Timmons
Read first time 01/27/25. Referred to Committee on State Government
& Tribal Relations.
p. 1 HB 1631
(2) Bull kelp has declined dramatically throughout south and 1
central Puget Sound in recent years, endangering its crucial role in 2
our marine and coastal ecosystems. The Washington state legislature 3
provided initial funding to implement priority actions identified in 4
the Puget Sound kelp conservation and recovery plan during the 2021 5
and 2023 legislative sessions. Continuing this work, the department 6
of natural resources established the statewide kelp and eelgrass 7
health and conservation plan in 2023 to conserve and recover at least 8
10,000 acres of kelp forests and eelgrass meadows by 2040, driving 9
collaborative efforts to preserve and restore our bull kelp forests 10
on Washington's coast and in Puget Sound. 11
(3) Conserving and recovering this vital species relies on 12
awareness that our bull kelp forests are critical to Washington's 13
identity, culture, economy, and ecology. In recognition of this 14
important habitat, the state legislature hereby designates bull kelp 15
(Nereocystis luetkeana) forests as the official state marine forest.16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW 17
to read as follows: 18
Bull kelp ( Nereocystis luetkeana ) forests are hereby designated 19
to be the official marine forest of the state of Washington.20
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p. 2 HB 1631