Colorful fish swim amid kelp on Cashes Ledge. Image: Paul Whittaker
Last summer, I had the opportunity to return to Cashes Ledge, a region of the Gulf of Maine known for its rich biodiversity and its dense, unique kelp forests. The area is formed by a string of underwater mountains that disrupt ocean currents, creating upswells of nutrients that support a hub of marine life. I joined a scientific expedition to see how the area was holding up. We measured kelp, counted fish, looked for signs of invasive species, took samples, and enjoyed some fantastic sunsets.
Back on dry land, the team is still evaluating the data, but early signs indicate this place is still thriving, still strong, and still extraordinary. Unfortunately, we also know there are significant threats facing the region. I’m sharing five takeaways from the trip.
1. Cashes Ledge is a paradise in our backyard.
There’s a reason why we sometimes have a hard time convincing people that photos of Cashes Ledge were taken right here in the Gulf of Maine, not in a tropical paradise. Long fronds of coppery kelp, bright red sea stars, entire clouds of silvery fish everywhere you look – it’s a sight like no other.
The shallowest peak of the underwater mountain range reaches within 30 feet of the surface, creating a vibrant, sunlit habitat even though it’s 90 miles offshore. Kelp requires sunlight, just like plants on land, so light reaching the bottom allows the kelp forest to thrive. The mountains also stir up the water in a way that creates ideal conditions for an explosion of marine life.
I’ve worked in most corners of the Gulf of Maine region. This is only my second visit to Cashes Ledge, but each time I’ve seen something new that takes my breath away.
2. Visiting the ocean renews my sense of wonder.
Going on a full-on, multi-day scientific expedition isn’t an experience most people get to enjoy, but any chance to get to know our ocean better has many benefits, whether you’re a scientist or just an ocean-lover. Being out on the water and spotting the many seabirds, sharks, and other sea life was incredibly invigorating. The ocean is truly bursting with life, and everywhere I looked I saw a reminder.
Taking a boat ride, going for a swim, or just walking along the shore always reminds me why I want to protect this extraordinary space.
3. Cashes Ledge is still thriving …
We found thick kelp forests, schools of pollock, abundant cod, and a rich variety of other marine life. The divers collected kelp that we measured at more than 16 feet long. That’s some long seaweed! Everywhere divers turned, there were fish, sponges, crabs, jellyfish, and other marine life. On the surface, we saw countless seabirds, including fulmars with their highly recognizable flared nostrils, as well as multiple ocean sunfish.
4. … but it won’t be for long if we don’t act.
Cashes Ledge is a remarkably healthy place, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t at risk. The kelp forest is intact, but invasive red algae were highly evident. The schools of fish that we saw may not stick around if the Gulf of Maine keeps warming at its current rate, about three times faster than the ocean as a whole. The Trump administration keeps trying to tear up the Atlantic Ocean floor in pursuit of minerals and rare earth elements, which could have harmful ripple effects throughout the ocean’s web of life.
5. Cashes Ledge has a lot to teach us.
Ecosystems throughout the Gulf of Maine, including kelp forests along the New England coast, have been struggling in the face of warming waters. Protecting Cashes Ledge will not only conserve its vibrant biodiversity – it will also provide us with a “natural laboratory” allowing scientists to study the impacts of climate change free from the complications of also having other human impacts. We can then apply the lessons we learn to other parts of the ocean.
Studying places where the ocean is struggling is important, but so is studying how the ocean can adapt and thrive.
That’s why making this place a national marine sanctuary is so essential. Sanctuary status would safeguard what makes this place special for generations. If that sounds like a good idea to you, please sign our petition to protect Cashes Ledge today.
