Seagrass once covered a large area of the shallow waters around Britain’s coast, but it is estimated that around 92% of these underwater meadows have been lost over the last century.
There are 4 species of Seagrass in the UK, which include Tassel weeds and Eelgrass.
They are the only underwater flowering plant and like to grow in sheltered areas of the coast, around harbours, bays and estuaries.
Seagrass supports a huge amount of marine life, including over 50 species of fish. Their dense leaves offer shelter, food and habitat whilst also providing a nursery environment for a range of inhabitants, including endangered species such as seahorses.
And the benefit of these underwater meadows doesn’t stop there. They capture and absorb carbon from the environment and help to remove pollution from the water. Their roots also help to stabilize sediment and to prevent erosion.
However, numbers of these valuable plants are in decline. In the last two decades an area over 30,000km2 has been lost globally. Their continued loss is attributed to pollution from industry and other human activities including dredging, trawling and coastal development.
Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Marine Awareness Officer Julie Hatcher said: “ The huge decline in seagrass meadows in the UK has undoubtedly had an impact on marine wildlife. Many species depend on this habitat, using it for breeding, as a safe nursery area for their young and as a rich source of food and shelter.’’
The reduction in seagrass habitats will undoubtably have a negative impact on marine biodiversity and the environment, however action is being taken to support its recovery.
Julie said ‘’ “Around the country Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations are working to manage the impact human activity is having on the remaining areas and to restore some of what we have lost. Designation of Marine Conservation Zones and other forms of protection, alongside robust management plans to reduce human impact, will allow these areas to recover naturally over time, with replanting schemes in some locations.”
The WWF has also introduced The Seagrass Ocean Rescue project with an aim to restore Seagrass meadows. Starting in Wales and with the help of volunteers, they have collected hundreds of thousands of seeds, which they are now planting to help boost seagrass numbers. If successful they hope to roll this project out to other areas of the UK. They have a seagrass app where you can upload your sighting of seagrass so numbers can be tracked and conserved.
