The collection consists of black and white, color, and infrared aerial photography of kelp beds and coastline from Baja California to Point Conception.

The Kelco Company (est. 1929, San Diego) was the world's largest commercial producer of algin, a derivative of alginic acid used as a stabilizing, suspending and gelling agent in a variety of food and industrial applications. Kelco's fleet harvested giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) and rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) from the waters off Baja and Southern and Central California to procure alginic acid. To facilitate its harvesting operations, the company conducted aerial surveys of kelp beds regulated by the California Department of Fish and Game. This visual survey information was used to direct vessels to mature areas of kelp canopy that had sufficient density for harvesting.

4.5 Linear feet (8 archives boxes, 1 flat box)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.