Seagrass Makes a Remarkable Comeback, Bringing New Hope for Coastal Ecosystems and Climate
A quiet recovery is taking place beneath the world’s coastal waters. In some places Seagrass meadows are returning after decades of decline. The seagrass comeback is good news for marine wildlife, coastal communities and climate efforts.
Why is seagrass so important?
Seagrass is a flowering plant that grows under water and can look like regular grass. Its meadows are a source of food and shelter for fish, shellfish, sea turtles, seahorses and a host of other species.Fisheries also call these underwater habitats home. More than one-fifth of the world’s largest fisheries use seagrass as nursery habitat, UNEP says. It also improves water quality by capturing pollutants and nutrients.So healthy seagrass means healthier fisheries and more productive marine environments for coastal communities.
What Led to the Decline of Seagrass?
For decades, human activities have been putting pressure on seagrass. Construction on the coast can physically harm underwater meadows. Farms, cities and industries can pollute coastal water, reducing the light plants need.
Other stressors include anchoring, dredging, fishing activity and warming ocean temperatures. “While seagrasses have been declining globally for decades, some areas are now seeing significant recovery,” says UNEP.
The lesson is clear. When the damaging pressures ease, nature can sometimes begin to heal itself.
Seagrass Restoration in Portugal
A recent instance comes from the Ria de Aveiro lagoon in Portugal. The seagrass meadows had disappeared in the area of Largo do Laranjo, once polluted by industrial pollution.An EU-funded restoration project showed that the ecosystem returned as water quality improved. Re-established seagrass helped reduce erosion and trap contaminated sediment.
This example illustrates why restoring coastal waters can be as important as planting sea grass.
Seagrass and fighting climate change
The seagrass comeback is also important because these plants can trap carbon in their leaves and roots and the sediment surrounding them.Covering just 0.1 percent of the ocean floor, seagrasses can store large amounts of the ocean’s carbon. It also softens waves and shields shorelines from erosion and storms.But we should not replace the reduction of greenhouse gases with the fix of the environment. It is often easier to preserve meadows than to try to restore ecosystems after they have been badly damaged.
How you can help the coastline to recover
• People living near the coastline can help reduce the daily pressure on underwater habitats.
• Observe local regulations for boating and anchoring.
• Avoid disturbing shallow seagrass beds.
• Cut plastic and chemical waste and Opt for sustainable seafood.
• Get involved in local beach and marine conservation.
• Respect coastal protection areas.
Governments can improve wastewater treatment, restrict development along the coast, and safeguard important marine habitats.
Conclusion
The recovery of seagrass meadows demonstrates that, when pollution and physical disturbance are reduced, damaged coastal ecosystems can be restored. Their return can be good for wildlife, fisheries, coastal defence and climate resilience.”
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