Recently we heard about a couple of major financial victories gained by the Puyallup Tribe in 2025. Namely, $3.2 million in funds to upgrade tribal hatcheries and a $5 million grant toward the purchase of the Minterbrook Oyster Farm. Another key victory, however, has flown somewhat further under the radar.
First introduced to the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations back in January, House Bill 1631 was put forth for “establishing bull kelp forests as the official state marine forest.”
“Bull kelp holds deep cultural significance for tribal nations, continuing to sustain and support tribal communities today as it has for generations,” the bill reads. “For tribes, access to healthy bull kelp ecosystems within their usual and accustomed grounds, stations, and traditional areas is essential not only as a source of food and traditional materials, but also for spiritual, cultural, and economic practices that have long depended on the kelp forest’s vitality. Recognizing this, this act explicitly respects and upholds the treaty rights of Indian tribes.”
While the legislation doesn’t necessarily designate any further action to protect bull kelp forests, it further emphasizes current preservation actions that are already underway. The Native Kelp Forest and Eelgrass Meadow Health and Conservation Plan hopes to recover 10,000 acres of marine habitat by 2040 after decades of die-off and neglect, largely due to warming ocean temperatures, pollution, and construction.
“Bull kelp is a super seaweed and it’s the key to our Puget Sound comeback story,” said Rep. Greg Nance said in a press release following Governor Bob Ferguson’s signing of the bill. “Salmon, orca, and countless species count on kelp, but many folks have no idea that it exists at all. Today is an important step for Puget Sound recovery.”
The bill passed the House 97-0 without opposition, and passed the Senate 47-1.
