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The kelp forest is a very diverse and prosperous environment for many creatures. Dozens of creatures rely on the environment for food and shelter. A kelp forest is common to see on the pacific coast like Alaska and all the way in Baja California. The 2 types of kelps that help form the kelp forest are giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana). Kelp forests aren’t that common. The water for the kelp forest has to be 6 feet to 90 feet The water has to be 72o F, which is very warm for a natural habitat. Unlike trees that use roots to hold themselves down kelp uses something called anchors. The anchors hold on to the rocky sea floor. Many creatures rely on the kelps forest like otters, California seal lions and different kinds of very unique fish. The Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) is a creature that thrives in the kelp forest in Southern California, but since 1995 it has been declared as California state sea fish. The golden trout is the California state freshwater fish. In 1995 the Garibaldi population was dropping at an alarming rate due to commercial collection by the saltwater aquarium industry. As a way to protect the fish from commercial collection in 1995, a state Legislature was created. This legislature stated that the Garibaldi was to be protected by placing a moratorium on commercial collection but in the legislature it also declared the Garibaldi as the official state fish.
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