Species profile
winged kelp
Alaria marginata
At a glance
winged kelp (Alaria marginata) is a marine alga regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Oregon); the most generous is 10 (California).
Confirmed by 1,867 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, California, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Winged kelp grows from Alaska to northern California on exposed rocky shores battered by surf.
- Distinctive wing-like sporophylls at the base of the blade release reproductive spores.
- It can reach up to 2 meters in length and provides food for urchins, snails, and amphipods.
Where winged kelp are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for winged kelp
Background
Alaria marginata, the winged kelp, is a brown alga species in the genus Alaria. It can grow up to 13 feet. Fronds are long and narrow with raised midrib and wavy edges. Each frond has two rows of several smooth, oblong, 5 inch spore-bearing blades at the base in winter. The base is attached to rocks.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's winged kelp article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other brown algae/kelps on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.