For more than a century, California’s kelp forests have been steadily declining. In Southern California, more than half of historic kelp cover has disappeared, while Northern California has lost over 96% in the past decade alone. One major driver of this collapse was the disappearance of sunflower stars during the 2013–2014 sea star wasting disease outbreak.

Sunflower stars are a keystone predator in kelp forest ecosystems. Before their decline, these large sea stars kept purple sea urchin populations in check. Without them, urchins multiplied rapidly and overgrazed kelp forests, transforming thriving habitats into barren seafloors.

Seatrees is helping bring this critical predator back by supporting the recovery of the endangered sunflower star. Through our partnership with the Sunflower Star Lab, we are funding the lab’s “kitchen”—the food systems needed to raise healthy young sea stars for future reintroduction.

As juvenile sea stars grow into hungry teenagers, they must be fed the same prey they will encounter in the wild, including purple urchins and abalone. Supporting this food production ensures the lab can raise strong, resilient sea stars capable of helping restore balance to kelp forest ecosystems.

Your donation helps keep the Seatrees Snack Shack stocked, providing the meals these growing sea stars need to thrive—and one day return to the ocean to help kelp forests recover.