Seagrass meadows could help nourish millions, new study finds
New research finds that seagrass meadows support fish that can be more valuable for human nutrition than fish found on coral reefs Seagrass meadows play a majorly overlooked role in providing nutrition for coastal communities, a new study published in Cell Reports Sustainability has uncovered. The study, led by researchers at Project Seagrass and Stockholm University found that fish living in seagrass meadows can provide a richer mix of essential nutrients than fish living on nearby coral reefs. Coral reefs are famous for supporting large numbers of fish. But this new study reveals that seagrass meadows may be equally important, and in some cases even more important, for the fish that people actually catch and eat. The research team studied fish from 20 seagrass meadows and 20 coral reefs along a 3,000km stretch of coastline between Kenya and Mozambique. They investigated the presence of six key nutrients that people need to stay healthy – calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, and omega-3 fatty acids – within the fish found along this stretch of coastline. Instead of looking at each nutrient one by one, the scientists instead treated fish more like natural multivitamins. “Fish don’t nourish people one nutrient at a time,” said Dr Benjamin Jones, who carried out the research as a PhD student at Stockholm University and is now Chief Conservation Officer at Project Seagrass. “They come as a package. A single fish contains iron, zinc, calcium, selenium, vitamin A, and omega-3s. We wanted to understand which habitats produce fish with the best mix of these nutrients.” After accounting for differences in fish biomass, the team found that seagrass fish communities were, on average, 1.6 times more nutritionally rich than coral reef fish communities. The difference was even larger when the team focused on the fish species most often caught by fishers in East Africa. For the top three most important food fish species, nutrient support was over 8 times higher in seagrass meadows than coral reefs. Two important food fish prized in the region, rabbitfish and parrotfish, were also far more common in seagrass meadows. In terms of biomass, they were 5 times and 65 times more abundant in seagrass than on coral reefs. “We know that coral reefs have more fish overall, but seagrass meadows had more of the fish that really matter for local food,” said Dr Jones. “This changes how we should think about these habitats. Seagrass isn’t just a fish nursery, nor just a carbon stock, it’s food infrastructure, nature’s own supermarket.” Four rabbitfish in seagrass. Photo credit: Ben Jones Rabbitfish in market. Ben Jones Millions of people in tropical coastal regions rely on fisheries for food and income, and many of these communities face poverty, limited livelihood options, and high risks of malnutrition. The study also found that an average seagrass fish could provide around 5% of a young child’s daily iron needs, 70% of their selenium needs, and 21% of their zinc needs highlighting the overlooked role that seagrass meadows play in supporting the health of coastal communities. The findings also challenge the way that ocean conservation is often framed. Coral reefs attract global attention, and rightly so. They are rich in biodiversity and support major fisheries. However, these important ecosystems are under severe pressure from climate change, bleaching, ocean warming, acidification, and overfishing. Seagrass meadows are also declining, especially in tropical regions, because of poor water quality, sewage pollution, coastal development, sediment runoff, and physical damage. Yet they receive far less attention and funding despite the wealth of benefits they provide. The authors argue that this must change. “If we lose seagrass meadows, we are not just losing habitat,” said Dr Jones. “We may be losing a source of nutrition for millions of people who need it most.” The study argues that seagrass should not replace coral reefs in conservation priorities. Instead, it shows that the two habitats do different jobs and need equal attention. Coral reefs support more fish biomass. Seagrass meadows provide reliable access to key food fish that can contain a powerful mix of nutrients. “Reefs and seagrass meadows work together,” said Dr Jones. “If we want coastal fisheries to feed people, we need to protect the whole seascape.” The researchers say that protecting seagrass for food security will require more than drawing boundaries in the sea. Most threats to seagrass come from land. Better sewage treatment, cleaner rivers, reduced sediment runoff, improved farming practices, and locally fair fisheries management are all needed to ensure the protection of our remaining seagrass meadows. They also warn that seagrass conservation must not ignore the people who depend on these habitats. As interest grows in protecting seagrass for blue carbon, communities must not be pushed away from fishing grounds that support their diets and livelihoods. “Seagrass conservation has to be about people as well as nature,” said Dr Jones. “These meadows store carbon, support biodiversity, and help feed millions. That makes them one of the most important ecosystems on Earth.” The message from the study is simple: secure seagrass meadows, and we help secure food and nutrition for coastal communities. Key Findings Seagrass fish communities were 1.6 times more nutritionally rich than coral reef fish communities after accounting for fish biomass and depth. For the top three regional food fish species, estimated nutrient availability was 8.4 times higher in unfished seagrass meadows than unfished coral reefs. In fished areas, predicted nutrient support from these same species was 8.8 times higher in seagrass meadows than coral reefs. Two important food fish were far more common in seagrass: Siganus sutor was 5 times higher by biomass, and Leptoscarus vaigiensis was 65 times higher by biomass. An average seagrass-associated fish could provide around 5% of a young child’s daily iron needs, 70% of selenium needs, and 21% of zinc needs. The study shows that seagrass meadows should be recognised as vital food-security habitats, not just biodiversity or carbon habitats. The study, “Seagrass meadows sustain fish communities vital for human nutrition,” is
London Climate Action Week: Are we forgetting that we are nature?
Project Seagrass CEO and Co-Founder, Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth reflects on London Climate Action Week: I left London Climate Action Week inspired, challenged, and, at times, deeply concerned. Over the course of the week I joined conversations spanning nature finance, climate resilience, biodiversity, restoration, and global leadership. The speakers were exceptional. The discussions thoughtful. The ambition undeniable. Yet I found myself returning to one central question: Have we become so focused on financing nature that we’re forgetting why nature matters in the first place? One recurring theme throughout the week was the rapid growth of private investment in nature. There is no doubt we need to unlock far greater investment if we are to tackle the intertwined climate and biodiversity crises. Finding language that resonates with investors, governments, and businesses is essential. Concepts such as natural infrastructure or nature as infrastructure have undoubtedly helped communicate the value of healthy ecosystems and have opened doors to conversations that might not otherwise have happened. But I also found myself questioning whether these terms are enough, or perhaps whether they risk shaping how we think about nature in ways that deserve greater, deeper, reflection. Nature is so much more than infrastructure. Infrastructure is something we build to serve us. Nature is the living system that sustains us. Whilst framing ecosystems as infrastructure may help unlock investment for conservation and restoration, we should be careful not to reduce nature’s value to the services it provides or the financial returns it can generate. If we do, we risk reinforcing the very mindset that has contributed to environmental decline. Perhaps the challenge is not whether we use these terms, but ensuring they remain a means to an end, not the end itself. Leanne was a delegate at London Climate Action Week 2026 Leanne attended an inspiring speech by Al Gore at the Guildhall as part of London Climate Action Week. Investment in nature-based solutions has increased dramatically over the past decade, with ambitious targets to unlock hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Much of the conversation focused on creating investable markets, developing commodities, standardising metrics, and attracting private capital. All of these discussions are important. We need significantly greater investment if we are to reverse biodiversity loss and respond to climate change. But I remain uncomfortable with one phrase that appeared repeatedly. Nature as infrastructure. I understand why the term is used. It helps communicate value to investors and policymakers. But nature is more than infrastructure. Infrastructure exists to serve us. Nature is the living system of which we are part. Reducing ecosystems to assets risks reinforcing the very worldview that has driven environmental decline, a worldview where nature’s value depends solely on the services it provides to people. The challenge is not simply finding new ways to value nature. It is remembering that our own future depends upon healthy ecosystems. The missing ocean Perhaps the biggest surprise was not what was discussed but what wasn’t. Again, the Ocean was siloed into separate token sessions in a separate venue. Many other conversations centred on agriculture and forestry, which currently receive the overwhelming majority of private investment. That isn’t surprising. Around one third of the Earth’s surface is used for agriculture. But two thirds of our planet is Ocean. Despite that, marine ecosystems remain largely absent from many broader conversations about nature finance. Even when seagrass appeared, sometimes literally as the backdrop on presentation slides, it was not discussed. This is a pattern we encounter repeatedly. Seagrass has become something of a poster child for coastal restoration, yet when investment decisions are being discussed, these ecosystems are still frequently overlooked. That disconnect matters. A healthy Ocean, of which seagrass meadows are a significant part, underpin fisheries, coastal resilience, biodiversity, carbon storage, and livelihoods across the globe. If we continue to overlook marine ecosystems, we are overlooking much of the planet itself. Mapping the Market Panel discussion at London Climate Action Week Talks on the current state of private investment in nature Protection before restoration Another theme that emerged consistently across discussions is that everyone wants restoration. Fewer people spoke about protection. The science remains clear. The first priority must always be protecting the ecosystems that still exist. Where ecosystems can recover naturally, passive restoration should come first. Active restoration has a vital role where scientific evidence demonstrates that natural recovery is unlikely. This is not simply about spending money more efficiently. It is about working with ecological processes rather than against them. We still need people Technology featured prominently throughout the week: Artificial intelligence; satellite imagery; remote sensing; environmental markets. All offer exciting opportunities. But none remove the need for people. Several discussions explored the creation of dynamic environmental baselines and increasingly sophisticated monitoring approaches. These are valuable developments. Yet ecosystems still require people on the ground. We still need scientists, practitioners, local communities, and volunteers undertaking field surveys, validating data, and understanding ecological change in context. No amount of technology replaces local knowledge or ecological expertise. Nature recovery remains a human endeavour. Public money still matters Private finance has an important role to play. It can accelerate restoration, unlock innovation, and diversify funding. But it cannot replace public investment. Several speakers raised concerns that Governments are beginning to withdraw public funding in anticipation that private markets will fill the gap. That would be a profound mistake. Public investment creates the policy, regulation, and long-term certainty upon which private investment depends. Without strong public institutions, environmental markets cannot function effectively. The conversation should never be public or private finance. It should be public and private finance working together. Women Leaders Protecting People and Planet session during London Climate Action Week We are nature Perhaps the most powerful session of the week brought together women leaders from across the world. One speaker said something that has stayed with me. “We are not saving nature. Nature is saving us.” Another reminded us: “The Ocean was our first mother.” These aren’t simply poetic observations. They challenge something fundamental. Somewhere along the