Towering underwater kelp forests generate a potential value of $500 billion each year by providing a boost to commercial fishing, as well as nitrogen and carbon removalA kelp forest near the Channel Islands in CaliforniaShutterstock/Ethan DanielsKelp forests provide an estimated value of $500 billion to the world and capture 4. display('mid-article-slot'); }); >carbon and phosphorus the kelp absorb from the sea. But Wernberg says an important next step would be to include more kelp types and assess a wider range of benefits, including their cultural significance to indigenous communities