Seagrass Meadows
The Magic of Seagrass Meadows
Seagrass meadows are underwater forests that provide shelter for baby fish, sea turtles, and dugongs. They also fight climate change, storing over 18% of the ocean’s carbon despite covering just 0.2% of the seafloor making them one of the ocean’s most powerful carbon sinks.
The Growing Threat to Seagrass
Seagrass meadows are disappearing fast, losing about 7% of their habitat each year. Pollution, coastal development, and harmful fishing practices destroy them, leaving marine life without food or shelter. Excess fertilizers and sewage cause algal blooms that block sunlight, while dredging for harbors and resorts uproots and buries these vital plants.
Seagrass to the Rescue!
Seagrass meadows are disappearing fast, losing about 7% of their habitat each year. Pollution, coastal development, and harmful fishing practices destroy them, leaving marine life without food or shelter. Excess fertilizers and sewage cause algal blooms that block sunlight, while dredging for harbors and resorts uproots and buries these vital plants.
Bringing Seagrass Back to Life
All hope is not lost! Across the globe, dedicated conservationists are working hard to restore
seagrass meadows. In British Columbia, the Salish First People have teamed up with marine
scientists to replant eelgrass, an essential type of seagrass that supports fish populations.
Volunteers carefully collect seagrass shoots, then scuba divers plant them back into the
seabed, giving marine life a second chance.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, researchers have planted over 72 million eelgrass seeds since 1999, helping
to restore more than 9,500 acres of lost seagrass habitat. This has brought back essential marine species like bay scallops, blue crabs, and striped bass. It’s proof that, with the right effort and commitment, we can heal our oceans.
