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Entrepreneur pitches community kelp farm for Santa Barbara Harbor; commission offers staff help on siting
Summary
A local aquaculture grower presented a proposal for a community kelp farm to support education, tourism and local food production. Commissioners and staff asked about funding, curriculum partnerships with SBCC and UCSB, and suggested staff assist with siting and permitting contacts; no formal permits or approvals were requested at the meeting.
Bernard Friedman (presenting as a representative of local shellfish and kelp farming operations) introduced a proposal for a community kelp farm in Santa Barbara waters at the Harbor Commission meeting on Aug. 21. Friedman described more than two decades of shellfish farming experience and recent collaboration with UCSB on Department of Energy grants to grow giant kelp. He said kelp cultivation can support tourism, education, local food production and carbon and nitrogen sequestration.
Friedman said the proposed site would ideally be 50–70 feet deep and on sandy bottom, east of the sewage outfall and nearer Montecito and the Anchorage, though he kept exact siting intentionally broad to allow staff and permitting agencies to weigh constraints. He described past observations that kelp propagules recruit to lines and highlighted examples from Kodiak, Alaska, where he observed large kelp farms and a wide diversity of native kelps. He called the proposal a “community” farm intended to involve Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), UCSB and other partners to develop education and workforce opportunities. For start‑up funding he cited grants as the primary source and noted tourism and product development as additional revenue streams.
Commissioners asked about funding sources, education partnerships and permitting. Commissioner Stedman asked specifically about kelp seedlings and partners; Friedman said initial funding would come from grants and university collaborations and that he had found ways to keep operational costs low. Vice Chair Ford and others highlighted education potential with SBCC and the Maritime Museum; Director Wilshire and staff said the commission is not the permitting agency but that waterfront staff could work with Friedman to identify possible siting and connect him to public works and state permitting contacts.
No formal action was taken. The commission recorded general support for staff to continue discussions and to help Friedman with siting and agency contacts; any permit applications would follow state and federal procedures outside the commission’s permitting authority.
What’s next: Friedman will continue to work with Waterfront Department staff and external permitting agencies as he develops formal applications; any future permit referrals or lease requests would be brought to the commission or city council as required by law.
