This rare species is dependent on kelp for habitat and has a small range from central California to northern Baja California. The estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 1,764 km². Kelp beds have undergone significant declines throughout its range due to warming waters associated with climate change as well as overgrazing by sea urchins and these declines are expected to increase in the near future. The number of locations is fewer than 10 (possibly only one) based on marine heatwaves that impact kelp throughout its range that are also increasing in frequency due to climate change. It is assessed as Vulnerable (VU B2ab(iii)). Research is needed on the population status of this species.

This species is distributed from Carmel in central California, USA south to Punta Colnett in northern Baja California, Mexico (Love et al. 2021). The depth range for this fish is 0–21 m (Love et al. 2021).

Based on drawing a minimum convex polygon around the extent of the range of this species, the estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 58,867 km². Based on overlaying a 2x2 km grid over the shoreline within this species' range, the estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 1,764 km². The species is estimated to occur in fewer than 10 locations (possibly only one), based on a marine heatwave event impacting kelp abundance throughout its range which is increasing in frequency due to climate change.

This species is rare (Ellingson et al. 2014, Lowman et al. 2021). The population is not severely fragmented (L. Tornabene, D.R. Robertson, O. Domínguez, and J. Van Tassell pers. comm. 2024). It is known from at least 48 museum lots, with the largest lot containing at least 38 individuals (FishNet2 online database accessed September 2023). It is inferred that this kelp-associated species' population is, and will continue to decline in the future with the declining abundance and quality of kelp forests throughout its distribution (Lowman et al. 2021).

Kelp abundance in California naturally fluctuates on a decadal-scale per the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation as well as periodic El Niño events, but is also probably impacted by anthropogenic-driven climate change at some level. Giant Kelp canopy biomass from San Francisco to San Diego increased on average over the past 34 years, but recent large-scale warming events such as the 2014 North Pacific warming event and the 2015–2016 El Niño caused the biomass trends to decline (Bell et al. 2018). On average, between 1984 and 2018, kelp was only found to be present and persistent in 43% of its suitable environment from central California, USA to central Baja California, Mexico (Arafeh-Dalmau et al. 2021). This value decreases from north to south, being as low as 37% in northern Baja California (Arafeh-Dalmau et al. 2021). An estimate of kelp biomass trend over the past ten years (2014–2024) throughout its range is not available.

This benthic species inhabits rock crevices and kelp holdfasts, with juveniles often schooling in kelp canopies (Kells et al. 2016). It has an obligate association with giant kelp, requiring refuge among various kelp structures during certain stages of its life history (Graham et al. 2008). The maximum total length is 8.9 cm (Love et al. 2021).

Based on general knowledge of goby biology, which are typically short-lived, three generations are inferred to be less than 10 years, and therefore, the time period over which decline is estimated for the purposes of this Red List assessment should be 10 years.

This rare, kelp-dependent species is threatened by the ongoing degradation of kelp forests throughout its distribution due to climate change and anthropogenic activities (Lowman et al. 2021, Bell et al. 2023). Extreme climate events such as marine heatwaves and hypoxic events are becoming increasingly severe and frequent, posing a significant risk to kelp forests in coming years (Catton et al. 2016, Arafeh-Dalmau et al. 2021). Recent marine heatwaves across this species' distribution has resulted in the loss of entire kelp forests, with the risk of kelp forest degradation increasing as you travel southward (Arafeh-Dalmau et al. 2021). As global temperatures continue to rise, southern populations of this species likely face an increased risk of extirpation due to kelp's lower conservation priority and thermal tolerance. A secondary stressor includes overgrazing of the kelp by abnormally large Purple Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) populations, which was predicated by the loss of their sea star predator to disease (Catton et al. 2016, Starko et al. 2019).

This species is not utilized.

There are no species-specific conservation measures. This species occurs in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Burton and Lea 2019). The percentage of fully protected kelp habitats decreases from north to south, with values ranging from 20.9% in central California to about 1% in northern Baja California (Arafeh-Dalmau et al. 2021). There are long-term programs in place to monitor trends in kelp abundance and ecosystem trends off California (Catton et al. 2016, Bell et al. 2018).

Research is needed on the population status of this species.