Ecklonia radiata, commonly known as golden kelp, common kelp, spiny kelp or leather kelp, is a species of kelp found in the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Islands, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal, South Africa, Oman, southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, and New Zealand.

[3][4] In Australia, E. radiata forms the backbone of the Great Southern Reef, a system of interconnected kelp reefs that spans the coastline of southern Australia, underpinning biodiverse and productive ecosystems, and supporting valuable ecosystem services.

[5] Ecklonia radiata grows in kelp beds on reefs and where sheltered can form dense 'forests'.

[6][4] It can be found in the low intertidal zone to depths of approximately 25 metres (82 ft) and rarely exceeds a body length of 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).

This Phaeophyceae (or brown alga) article is a stub.