Successful conservation and management of kelp forests requires more ambitious use of international law

Abstract Kelp forests are the world's most extensive vegetated marine ecosystems. They provide critical ecological functions as well as valuable ecosystem services for human societies. Yet, kelp forests have been largely overlooked in international environmental law. There are no specific treaties focused on kelp, and they have only benefited to a limited extent under existing regimes. This article analyses the treatment of kelp in international environmental law and finds that there are few formally listed sites containing kelp forests and that several treaty regimes could be better utilised for their benefit. The article concludes by outlining more ambitious ways in which international environmental law can better contribute to the conservation and management of kelp forests and other marine ecosystems facing similar futures. This research seeks to shed light on kelp forests and in doing so seeks to contribute to the growing body of multi‐disciplinary literature on kelp and the role that law can play in securing its future.