The Pacific Northwest is home to a variety of seaweeds that are commonly found washed ashore. Seaweeds play a vital role in the underwater ecosystem, as they serve as the base for most marine food chains. By providing shelter and food in their abundant “forests”, seaweeds are essential to the rest of the ecosystem. This EZ ID Guide will help differentiate between the many types of kelp and green, red, and brown seaweeds that pepper the Salish Sea.
How to use this guide: Browse by picture or lookup the common or scientific name by using the search tool in the upper right of the table below. Try sorting and filtering the list by using the links in the upper left of the table. Scroll down to see more items in the list.