Seagrass is a flowering marine plant that lives underwater, having evolved from a variety of land-based species, recolonising the ocean many millions of years ago. It is the only flowering plant found in sea and it can be found in shallow coastal waters throughout much of the world.
Unlike seaweed, seagrasses are flowering plants, that have roots and produce fruit and seeds. Related to lilies and palms, they spread in a similar way to nettles, and form marine meadows, which are highly productive ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots.
A Valuable Ecosystem
As one of the planet’s most valuable ecosystems, seagrass offers crucial services, from offering a vital habitat to marine marine species, storing vast amounts of carbon to protecting our coastlines and improving water quality. Yet, things aren’t looking so good – meadows are disappearing at an alarming rate. Within the UK alone, nearly 50% of these meadows have vanished since the 1940’s.
What’s the threat to seagrass?
Human activity has led to a staggering 7% of global seagrass being lost each year. Physical disturbances caused by anchoring boats, mooring chains, and certain fishing methods, coupled with pollution from sewage and agricultural run-off, are the most prevalent threats to this vital marine ecosystem.
Ocean Meadows
One of the most widespread challenges is physical disturbance by boats, often due to a lack of awareness of where these habitats are. To address this, Blue Meadows works in partnership with harbour authorities to mark out these sensitive habitats with yellow top-hat marker buoys. These buoys make seagrass visible to boaters and encourage no anchoring, creating voluntary no anchor zones (VNAZ). So far, these VNAZ’s have successfully protected 215ha of seagrass meadows along the UK’s southwest coast and numbers are ever growing!
To further enhance protection, Blue Meadows are installing Advanced Mooring Systems (AMS) in popular anchoring areas. Unlike traditional mooring chains that scour the seabed as they move with the tide, AMS use a series of floats to lift the chain off the seabed, significantly reducing scouring damage. These systems have shown to increase seagrass presence by 200%, creating healthier environments for marine life and offering boaters a sustainable way to enjoy their favourite spots!
National Seagrass Nursery
Things don’t just stop there; Blue Meadows is actively restoring seagrass meadows and is home to the National Seagrass Nursery – the largest of its kind in the UK! This specially built facility grows thousands of seagrass plants at any one time and allows the team to transplant happy, healthy, and resilient plants back into the Ocean. With the recent introduction of the HMS OCToPUS (a diver-operated seagrass seed injection device), restoration efforts have scaled up significantly. This device enables divers to inject up to 2,000 seeds into the seabed in under 20 minutes! Together these devices have enabled the Blue Meadows team to successfully restore nearly 12 hectares of seagrass across three locations!
Innovation
Community engagement is at the heart of Blue Meadows. By involving coastal residents and stakeholders through ongoing awareness programmes and participatory approaches, Blue Meadows fosters deep connections to local marine environments. This community centred approach encourages individuals to adopt sustainable practices and pro-Ocean behaviours, empowering communities to take ownership of their local seagrass ensuring these become long lasting legacies!
Through innovative conservation techniques and meaningful community involvement, Blue Meadows is helping restore seagrass meadows across the southwest UK, protecting marine ecosystems, combating climate change, and safeguarding coastal communities.
Thanks to Eden Stevens and The Ocean Conservation Trust for
‘Seagrass: The Ocean’s Hidden Hero for Climate and Marine Life’
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