Temperate Northern Pacific (TP)

The Temperate Northern Pacific (TP) realm covers the temperate coastal and shelf waters of the North Pacific, spanning from Japan and Russia in the west to North America in the east. It is defined by its nutrient-rich waters and highly productive ecosystems, most notably its vast kelp forests. These underwater forests provide critical habitat for species like sea otters and a wide variety of fish, including Pacific salmon. The realm is also home to several species of whales, such as the gray whale and the North Pacific right whale. Its boundaries are determined by oceanographic features like the Oyashio and California currents, which maintain its characteristic cool-to-temperate temperature regimes.