The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, National Seagrass Action Plan Project Manager Carl Gough shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Carl
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Programme Manager Mark Hart shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Mark has been
Over 90% of the UK’s seagrass meadows have been lost — threatening biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal resilience. New strategic partnership with King Charles III Charitable Fund strengthens long-term UK seagrass recovery and protection. Project Seagrass has been selected as one of King Charles III Charitable Fund’s strategic partners for 2026-2029.
On the western side of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, sits Myuna Bay – a quiet bay with meadows of seagrass waving beneath the water. The most common marine plant species you find there is Zostera muelleri. It has long ribbon-like leaves that grow from stems (called rhizomes)
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Senior Science Officer Ally Evans shares her experiences and the route she took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills
Project Seagrass is delighted to welcome Olivier Leger as one of our Ambassadors. Olivier Leger is an Ocean Wildlife Artist based in the UK. His artwork tells important stories about our Ocean, inspiring people to explore their connection with our blue planet. His intricately detailed paintings and drawings celebrate the
When you think of a career in conservation, what do you see? A lot of people will think a role in conservation is all exciting fieldwork – being out in the field all day every day, monitoring species, and restoring habitats. But this isn’t always the case. Conservation is a
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Finance Manager Andrew Lee shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Andrew
The FANNS programme took place between 2024 and 2026. One of the focuses within the programme was on improving the natural environment through a series of restoration trials across multiple Special Areas of Conservation in South and West Wales. These trials aimed to establish the most effective methods of planting seagrass
On the 7th, 8th, and 9th May, the Project Seagrass team hosted our 2026 Open Days at our Seagrass Nursery in Laugharne. The Seagrass Nursery Open Days are an annual opportunity for funders, partners, and members of the community to meet the team and learn more about the exciting work
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, National Seagrass Action Plan Project Manager Carl Gough shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Carl began his role as Project Manager for the National Seagrass Action Plan in March 2025. The National Seagrass Action Plan presents a blueprint of action to achieve a vision where Welsh seagrass meadows are supporting marine biodiversity, vibrant communities, a sustainable economy, and making a valuable contribution to the climate emergency response. The 4 priority areas of action needed to achieve this vision are: Mapping Wales’ seagrass Building partnerships across land and sea Halting seagrass loss Reversing seagrass loss. Carl’s role involves cultivating a supportive operational environment for seagrass conservation in Wales. Carl’s main responsibilities include coordinating Seagrass Network Cymru partner organisations, reporting, strategic planning, organising funding, networking, communications, meeting facilitation, and governance. Carl notes that listening, negotiation, communication, planning, and flexibility are the most helpful skills he utilises to carry out his role. Problem solving is Carl’s favourite aspect of his role, stating: “Any difficulty is an opportunity depending on how you choose to approach it.” Previous Experience Carl left school at the age of 15 and joined a youth training scheme, working in pet shops followed by a public aquarium. At the age of 21, he returned to education and completed a BSC in Marine Biology before achieving an MSc in Zoology. Carl highlights that the life experience he gained between leaving school and returning to full time education was invaluable and says that even the jobs he didn’t perhaps enjoy at the time provided him with valuable skills and knowledge. When asked about which of his previous roles and experiences led to his current role as Project Manager, Carl said: “I’m sure my background in marine science helps, but it is certainly not the main reason for my appointment. My background and the skills I have developed from working in community development are possibly the most relevant to my role. This has included working in local authorities developing, facilitating, and monitoring large scale strategic plans; working directly with communities and being able to navigate the conflicting priorities that so often exists; supporting social enterprises with business planning and securing funding and interfacing with Welsh Government; and translating national policies into local action.” Advice Carl suggests that the qualities of patience, resilience, and perseverance make someone ideal for working in conservation. When asked what he would look for if recruiting for his own role Carl said, “Most of all, someone who has experience of local communities and demonstrable examples where they have managed to achieve a successful outcome when faced with multiple and differing viewpoints.” Carl also emphasised the importance of networking to help build connections: “Networking is very important! Getting active on LinkedIn is a useful way to develop your knowledge as well as your connections.”
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Programme Manager Mark Hart shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description Mark has been Programme Manager with Project Seagrass since the end of 2025. As Programme Manager, Mark spends a lot of time working closely with the science and operations teams to co-ordinate and deliver a portfolio of projects to agreed timescales, budgets, and outcomes. He leads the setting up of new projects, including development of project plans and reporting frameworks, supports the implementation of new systems and processes to improve efficiency and collaboration, liaises with internal and external stakeholders and ensures compliance with contractual requirements, funder expectations, and organisational policies and strategy. Solid IT skills and being a good communicator are essential skills for this role. Although fieldwork is not an essential aspect, Mark mentions how attending fieldwork where the opportunity arises is beneficial as it helps him better understand operational challenges, costs, timescales and risks. Mark most enjoys the teamwork aspect of his role, as well as meeting like-minded people and contributing to better outcomes for nature. Previous Experience Previously, Mark has had various roles in the UK Hydrographic Office, NHS, local government, consultancy and Royal Navy related to risk and project management deliverables as well as volunteering as a school governor and with his local Wildlife Trust. He notes how despite the various roles throughout his career, he enjoyed sciences and the environment as a student and never lost that enthusiasm. During university, Mark studied a BSc in Oceanography and an MA in International Security. Mark notes the experience he gained in previous roles with operational delivery, strategic planning, partnership working, and collaboration across different sectors were most helpful in getting him where he is today. Advice Mark suggests that the best qualities that make someone ideal for working in conservation are passion, energy, a can-do attitude, and a love of the outdoors. Mark previously knew very little about seagrass until he started working with the organisation – so it is important to remember you don’t have to be an expert in a subject before starting to work with it!
Over 90% of the UK’s seagrass meadows have been lost — threatening biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal resilience. New strategic partnership with King Charles III Charitable Fund strengthens long-term UK seagrass recovery and protection. Project Seagrass has been selected as one of King Charles III Charitable Fund’s strategic partners for 2026-2029. The charity is one of six inspiring organisations selected in the latest round of funding, all working to drive nature recovery, strengthen communities, and create lasting positive change in the UK. The new multi-year partnership will support Project Seagrass’ work to protect and restore seagrass meadows — one of the UK’s most threatened yet valuable marine ecosystems. Despite more than 90% of UK seagrass being lost over the last century, these underwater meadows remain critical for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, water quality, and resilient coastlines. The partnership comes at an important moment for seagrass recovery in the UK, as efforts increasingly move from isolated projects towards long-term, coordinated restoration and protection at scale. Project Seagrass’ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth said: “This partnership represents an important step forward for seagrass recovery in the UK. It recognises the importance of protecting and restoring these extraordinary ecosystems and strengthens our ability to deliver long-term, lasting recovery for our seas. By bringing together science, policy, and community action, we can scale restoration, strengthen protection, and help create the conditions seagrass meadows need to recover and thrive. At a time when our marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure, this kind of long-term support is vital to achieving meaningful change for people and planet.” Project Seagrass was founded in 2013 with a mission to save the world’s seagrass. Over the last 13 years the organisation has championed seagrass ecosystems on the global stage, helping connect science, communities and conservation action through tools such as SeagrassSpotter, which recently marked 10 years and more than 10,000 global seagrass sightings, and the launch of SeagrassRestorer to support shared learning and coordinated recovery efforts worldwide. In the UK, Project Seagrass established the country’s first seagrass nursery to help scale restoration initiatives, contributed more than 100 scientific publications to the field, and played a key role in securing Welsh Government endorsement of the National Seagrass Action Plan — the first coordinated national strategy for seagrass recovery in Wales. Today, on World Ocean Day, representatives from Project Seagrass are joining fellow King Charles III Charitable Fund strategic partners to reflect on the collective impact of the programme, share learning, and strengthen collaboration across the environmental and social sectors. Project Seagrass’ Chief Operating Officer, Dr Celia Marlowe said: “Bringing together organisations working across such different areas of environmental and social impact creates a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another. Hearing how others approach challenges, build community, and drive change is genuinely inspiring and helps shape how we work towards our mission to save the world’s seagrass. The strategic partnership will support Project Seagrass’ continued work to deliver people-centred approaches to seagrass recovery, helping safeguard healthier seas for future generations. Find out more about Project Seagrass’ work to save the world’s seagrass here. For more information about Project Seagrass’ work and opportunities to collaborate please contact Fundraising Manager Paula Langson on paulalangston@projectseagrass.org
On the western side of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, sits Myuna Bay – a quiet bay with meadows of seagrass waving beneath the water. The most common marine plant species you find there is Zostera muelleri. It has long ribbon-like leaves that grow from stems (called rhizomes) buried beneath the sediment and provides important shelter for small fish, shrimp and crabs. Although Myuna Bay looks quite normal, it is actually a bit unusual. For decades, the nearby Eraring power station released warm water into the lake that was used to cool down their systems, causing water temperatures here to be consistently 1°C to 3°C higher than nearby sites. This made the bay a rare natural laboratory for understanding what warming oceans might mean for coastal ecosystems. In our new research, published today in the journal New Phytologist, we used this setting to investigate what happens to seagrass and the microbes living in the sediment when ocean temperatures increase in the way climate models predict they will in the future. Experimental design. Sediments (intact or disrupted microbial communities via autoclaving) and seagrass (Zostera muelleri) plants (with intact or disrupted rhizosphere microbial community) were transplanted into the warm environment to test how belowground microbes affect seagrass performance under elevated ocean temperatures. Six plants (two from each of the three ambient and warm sites) were randomly placed into each pot with five replicate pots per treatment. Credit: New Phytologist (2026). One of the most important coastal habitats Seagrasses are often overlooked, but they are among the most important coastal habitats on Earth. They are marine flowering plants that stabilize sediments, improve water clarity and provide food and shelter for many marine animals. They also store large amounts of carbon in the sediments beneath them, making them important for slowing climate change. But seagrasses don’t function alone. Beneath the leaves, in the sediments, lives a hidden ecosystem of microbes: bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms that interact with the plant. Just as plants on land depend on soil microbes, seagrasses rely on microbial communities in the sediment around their roots. These microbes carry out many important processes. Some provide nutrients that plants need to grow. Others break down organic matter or detoxify harmful compounds in the sediment. In some ways, the relationship can be compared to the partnership between corals and the microscopic algae living inside them. Corals rely on those algae for energy, while seagrasses depend on microbes to help maintain a healthy environment around their roots. But not all microbes are helpful. Some produce sulfide, a compound that can be toxic to seagrass roots when it accumulates in sediments. We are starting to find out that whether microbial communities help or harm the plant can depend strongly on environmental conditions, including increases in ocean temperatures due to climate change. Simulating future ocean warming in the field To understand how ocean warming might affect the relationship between seagrasses and microbes in the sediment under realistic future conditions, we designed a field experiment at Myuna Bay. We collected seagrass plants and sediments from both warmer and “normal” temperature sites in Lake Macquarie. Some plants were grown in sediments with their microbial communities intact. In other treatments, the sediments were heated to 121°C to disrupt the microbes; this reduces total bacterial abundance by more than 95%. This allowed us to test how plants performed when the microbial community was intact versus when it had been disrupted. We then placed plants in pots with those different sediments and exposed the plants to warmer conditions at Myuna Bay, similar to those expected in the future. After one month, we monitored how the plants responded. We measured how they survived, how many shoots they produced and how their biomass changed over time. At the same time, we analyzed the bacterial communities in the sediment using DNA sequencing to see how they differed between treatments. Looking beyond plants When plants were grown in sediments from “normal” temperature sites, seagrass performed well whether the microbes were intact or disrupted. But when plants were grown in sediments from warmer sites, the outcome changed: plants growing with intact sediment microbial communities performed worse. These sediments from the warm areas also contained different bacterial communities, which may help explain the lower plant biomass we observed. One possible explanation involves sulfide. In seagrass sediments, certain microbes produce sulfide as part of their metabolism. At high concentrations, sulfide can be toxic for seagrasses. Warmer temperatures may stimulate microbial activity, increasing sulfide production and tipping the balance from a supportive microbial community to one that harms the plant. Our findings highlight an important idea: the impacts of climate change on seagrasses can’t be understood by looking at the plants alone. The microbial communities living in the sediment can also influence how these plants respond to warming. This has important implications for conservation and restoration. Around the world, seagrass meadows are declining due to coastal development, pollution and climate change. Restoration projects often focus on planting seagrass shoots or seeds. But the condition of the surrounding sediment, including its microbial community, may also determine whether restoration succeeds. As oceans continue to warm, the future of seagrass meadows may depend not only on the plants we see when snorkelling, but also on the microscopic microbes living in the sediment beneath them. More information: This article is republished from Phys.org Read the research paper here: Ocean warming indirectly affects seagrass performance through effects on sediment microbial communities – Jongen – New Phytologist – Wiley Online Library
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Senior Science Officer Ally Evans shares her experiences and the route she took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Ally first worked with Project Seagrass through roles at Swansea University – leading the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: North Wales programme and then joined the Restoration of Seagrass for Ocean Wealth (ReSOW) project to understand how social and governance factors can be used to support seagrass restoration. She started her current role with Project Seagrass in December 2025 as Senior Science Officer at our Seagrass Nursery in West Wales. Her role as Senior Science Officer consists primarily of designing experiments, collecting and analysing data, writing scientific reports, publishing peer-reviewed papers and communicating work to broader audiences via conferences and other outlets. Ally notes the most useful skills required for her role are good attention to detail and communication (both written and spoken), critical thinking, creative planning, data analysis, and a can-do attitude to learning new things. When asked what she enjoys most about her scientific roles, Ally talked about her love-hate relationship with fieldwork, stating: ‘I love setting my rhythm to the moon and tides and working outdoors, problem-solving, and observing nature close-up. But I hate being cold and wet and the disappointment of losing experiments or failing at what I’m trying to do because of weather, tides, etc. It’s exhausting but it’s what makes me tick as a scientist.’ Previous Experience After initially beginning a Psychology undergraduate degree, Ally switched to studying Maths. From there she completed an MSc in Global Aquatic Biodiversity: Monitoring and Conservation and a PhD focusing on ‘Artificial coastal defence structures as surrogate habitats for natural rocky shores: giving nature a helping hand’. Looking back, Ally mentions she wishes she had done a BSc in Marine Biology instead of Maths, noting she didn’t know Marine Biology was even an option when first looking for undergraduate degrees. Despite this, Ally believes the Maths degree was helpful for her career as it gave her a solid understanding of statistics and kept all doors open. Despite not being science-related, Ally mentions how equally impactful her initial student jobs in hospitality have been throughout her career. These roles taught her to have pride in her work and she was able to develop interpersonal skills early on, making future interviews and professional interactions more comfortable and successful. After completing her Master’s degree, Ally volunteered for a marine wildlife charity to gain experience before getting her first job for CEFAS as a GIS and Data Scientist. Other paid roles include working for a marine conservation charity in the tropics, with Natural England as a Marine Advisor and a Lab Assistant with the British Antarctic Survey. Post-PhD, Ally went on to work in a series of postdoc research positions at Southampton, Plymouth, Aberystwyth and Swansea Universities before finally joining Project Seagrass. Her experience in the field includes both intertidal and subtidal work consisting of dive, snorkel, and on-land surveys. Ally has also set up manipulative experiments such as planting seagrass plots and attaching bolt-on habitat units to artificial structures and is a qualified skipper. Ally monitoring an eco-engineering experiment on a seawall in Milford Haven Ally diving under Busselton Jetty in Western Australia Ally points out that no specific experience stands out in getting her to where she is today, but each was a stepping stone, allowing her to develop valuable transferable skills which have all led to her being the scientist she is today. Growing up, Ally didn’t know she wanted to work as a marine biologist. She knew she enjoyed the outdoors and biology, but wasn’t aware marine science was a potential career path. She even notes how a career advisor suggested potato farming as a career path to fit her love of the outdoors! It wasn’t until after a gap year of learning to surf and dive that Ally realised her true passion and where she wanted to focus her life’s energy. Ally points out even if you don’t have a traditional direct route into a career, there is always a route and the skills you gain along the way will still benefit you and make you stand out amongst the crowd. When asked about some of the challenges she has faced throughout her career, Ally said: ‘Weather, tides, vandalism of experiments, exhaustion, anti-social hours, limited budgets, etc. In terms of the science itself, nature doesn’t work like a lot of other sciences – ecological data are always messy and incomplete and there is a lot of variability/noise that can mask patterns and responses. It’s hard to design really robust experiments and to collect enough data to answer your questions with any confidence. But for a lot of us working in the sector, overcoming these problems is part of the draw.” Advice for working in conservation This is the advice that Ally has for those wanting to get into the sector: Q. Do you have any recommendations of where to look for job opportunities? A. I haven’t actively looked for a while. It used to be twitter – so maybe now LinkedIn? Jobs.ac.uk, conservationjobs.com, Bob Earl’s Coastnet. Q. How important is networking and do you have any advice on how to build connections? A. I hate the thought of networking but in reality all it is is being a nice approachable human being and putting yourself in positions where you have an opportunity to meet people and chat. Don’t try to impress or be something you’re not – just be interested, be yourself, and respect people at all levels. Q. What should someone expect when starting a career in conservation? A. The more flexible and willing you can be regarding what job you do and where, the more doors will open to you. Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a career in
Project Seagrass is delighted to welcome Olivier Leger as one of our Ambassadors. Olivier Leger is an Ocean Wildlife Artist based in the UK. His artwork tells important stories about our Ocean, inspiring people to explore their connection with our blue planet. His intricately detailed paintings and drawings celebrate the wonders of our Ocean, draw attention to the threats our important marine ecosystems face, and highlight the action underway to protect them. Oli’s artwork is informed by research trips, scuba diving, and collaborations with international conservation groups, and he has toured in shows across the UK. Project Seagrass was first introduced to Oli in 2024 as part of his research for Ambassador, an artwork which captures the importance of UK seagrass meadows and the astonishing biodiversity they support. In addition to celebrating the wonder of UK seagrass meadows, Ambassador also shines a spotlight on the threats that they continue to face alongside the work being undertaken by organisations such as Project Seagrass to conserve them. An important message behind the piece is the role that each of us can play in being an Ambassador for our Ocean. Oli said, “I’m honoured to join Project Seagrass as an Ambassador. Creating an artwork about seagrass has been a rewarding journey, and along the way Project Seagrass has shown me how important these habitats are. So I’m proud to play a part in championing seagrass meadows and Project Seagrass’s work to protect and restore these precious ecosystems. I’m looking forward to helping people of all ages dive into the story of seagrass and our ocean, through my artwork, at exhibitions and outreach events – especially those who may not yet have realised that these amazing underwater meadows are part of our coastline here in the UK.” Oli’s artwork Ambassador on display at the UK Seagrass Symposium 2025 Ocean Wildlife Artist Oli with Ambassador at the beach in Porthdinllaen As part of his research for Ambassador, Oli joined the Project Seagrass team to learn more about seagrass ecosystems and the work underway to protect and restore them. From visiting the Project Seagrass Nursery, supporting seagrass planting and seed collection efforts in North Wales, to facilitating sessions at Between the Trees Festival and the UK Seagrass Symposium, Oli’s experiences with the Project Seagrass team helped to shape the creation of Ambassador. Project Seagrass CEO Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth said, ”We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Olivier Leger as an ambassador for Project Seagrass. Oli’s artwork captures the beauty, wonder and emotional connection of our ocean in such a powerful way, and his iconic Seagrass Seahorse Ambassador has already inspired and engaged so many people with the vast human-seagrass linkages and importance of these ecosystems. We’re incredibly excited to work more closely with Oli and explore how storytelling through art can continue to connect people with seagrass conservation and ocean recovery.” Oli will join Project Seagrass’ existing Ambassadors Miranda Krestovnikoff and Jake Davies and we are excited to continue our work together.
When you think of a career in conservation, what do you see? A lot of people will think a role in conservation is all exciting fieldwork – being out in the field all day every day, monitoring species, and restoring habitats. But this isn’t always the case. Conservation is a very broad sector and requires all sorts of job roles and experiences for organisations to successfully run and for the work to be impactful. Research, engagement with the public and other organisations, communications, fundraising, project management, HR are just some of the essential roles required for effective projects. This new blog series ‘Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface’ takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the sector and talks to the people behind these roles at Project Seagrass to find out how they got to where they are and what insights and advice they can offer to those wanting to get into the sector. Explore the series: Andrew Lee Find out more about Andrew’s role as Finance Manager Discover More Ally Evans Find out more about Andrew’s role as Senior Science Officer Discover More Mark Hart Find out more about Mark’s role as Programme Manager Discover More Carl Gough Find out more about Carl’s role as NSAP Project Manager Discover More This blog series exploring Project Seagrass’ Conservation Careers was curated by Conservation Trainee Abi David. Abi was a panel members at the Youth Panel session at the UK Seagrass Symposium 2025 where young people shared their experiences of struggling to know what opportunities and pathways there are into a career in conservation sector. This blog series is a response to those discussions.
The Careers in Conservation: Below the Surface series takes a deep dive into the variety of job roles available within the conservation sector. In this article, Project Seagrass Finance Manager Andrew Lee shares his experiences and the route he took to a career in conservation. Job Description and Skills Andrew joined Project Seagrass as Finance Manager in 2023. Day to day responsibilities within this role include: General financial management of the Charity End of year accounts preparation Regular financial management reports (for Exec and Board) Drafting and managing budgets Fund management and reporting (including project funding) Managing and processing day-to-day transactions and accounting entries Developing/reviewing/managing finance related policies and controls General management support to the Executive team In Andrew’s opinion, the most valuable skills he uses day to day are methodical and process centred thinking, interpersonal skills, effective problem solving, adaptability, and a good understanding of Excel. He also pointed out how his transferable skills were as valuable as specific finance related knowledge during his application for the role. When asked what he enjoys most about his role, Andrew mentioned how good it feels knowing his work is supporting the wider team and enabling them to carry out their work, as well as the satisfaction of achieving balanced reports! Previous Experience A BSc in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Management helped Andrew achieve his current role, alongside a wealth of other experiences. He has always worked in the charity sector, including a position as Church Manager for 20+ years, but this role with Project Seagrass is his first role within conservation. Advice for working in conservation When asked what advice he has for people looking to start a career in conservation/ restoration, Andrew said: ‘Conservation and restoration needs many different areas of expertise to function and thrive. It’s not just about the scientists and conservationists. There are amazing career paths in finance, HR, management etc where you can utilise your skills to contribute to conservation and restoration. These roles are essential to provide a strong organisation under which the scientists and conservationists can thrive.’ When discussing the qualities he would look for if hiring for his own role, Andrew emphasised the importance of a genuine passion for the cause, alongside strong financial management skills — particularly within charity finance. He also noted that successful candidates should be methodical, organised, and able to perform well under pressure. In terms of searching for roles, Andrew recommends looking on charityjobs.co.uk, LinkedIn and to find organisations linked to your passion/ interests and actively pursue jobs with them. Andrew supports Project Seagrass’ citizen science tool SeagrassSpotter. Here is a seagrass sighting that Andrew uploaded during a holiday in Pulurrian Cove, Cornwall. Andrew joined the North Wales fieldwork team for their summer seagrass seed collection in summer 2024. As part of the trip Andrew installed new seagrass signage at Hafan y Mor.
The FANNS programme took place between 2024 and 2026. One of the focuses within the programme was on improving the natural environment through a series of restoration trials across multiple Special Areas of Conservation in South and West Wales. These trials aimed to establish the most effective methods of planting seagrass out into the field. Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC Following site assessments and stakeholder engagement, Ellis Bay in Llanelli was identified as the site for the restoration trials within the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC. Zostera noltei was identified as the most appropriate species for restoration at this site due to the estuary’s intertidal nature and sediment characteristics. In May 2024, the Project Seagrass team were joined in the field by Carmarthen Bay & Estuaries European Marine Site Officer Judith Oakley and Carmarthen Conservation Coordinator Paul Aubrey. 75 Zostera noltei cores were transplanted from a healthy donor meadow near Llanelli to the Llanelli trial site using the plug method. Monitoring later that summer in August 2024 demonstrated positive results with a significant percentage (40 %) increase in growth from the initial core size, indicating strong early establishment and expansion. These results were highly encouraging, suggesting that Llanelli site conditions were suitable for Zostera noltei transplant success. Members of the Project Seagrass team, Carmarthen Bay & Estuaries, and Carmarthenshire Council collect Zostera noltei transplants from a donor meadow in Llanelli. A Zostera noltei core collected from a donor meadow ahead of transplantation. Building on the success of the 2024 trial, further planting took place in May 2025. 72 Zostera noltei transplants were collected from the donor meadow. The 2025 planting plots were located further towards the foreshore to enable the team to explore planting into alternative sediment types and to more closely reflect the distribution of the natural meadow on the western side of the Bay. Monitoring of both the 2024 and 2025 planting efforts took place in August 2025 with the 2025 planting plots evidencing significant loss. Shortly after transplanting, the site experienced a period of elevated temperatures followed by storm events. Sediment redistribution around the plots was evident during the team’s monitoring which may have destabilised newly planted cores, while heat stress would have compounded physiological stress following transplantation. The previous years planting survival was more varied but generally stronger with plots located closer to the low shore within muddier sediments showing higher survival rates and successful expansion, in some cases demonstrating up to 35% growth relative to the original core size. Plots positioned closer to the foreshore experienced comparatively greater loss. The contrast between 2024 and 2025 results highlights the importance of sediment stability and micro-site selection in transplant success. Given the positive expansion observed in 2024, there is a strong case for scaling up transplant effort within suitable sediment areas across the bay with plans for further transplant trials in Llanelli to build upon this learning. Severn Estuary SAC Within the Severn Estuary SAC, Butetown foreshore in Cardiff was selected as the site for planting trials. This location was identified based on Habitat Suitability Modelling, desk-based reviews, and in-field surveys which revealed the presence of three small, isolated Zostera marina seagrass patches at the site. In May 2024, the Project Seagrass team planted 60,000 Zostera marina seagrass seeds at the Cardiff site, using the Direct Injection Seeding (DIS) planting method developed by The Fieldwork Company. Monitoring later in the summer revealed no germination success from these planting efforts which led to a smaller repeat trial in 2025. A further 3,200 seeds were planted using the DIS method, this time adopting a Seagrass Hug configuration. The Seagrass Hug method has been developed by Anouska Mendzil, Senior Science Officer at Project Seagrass and Swansea University, and aims to determine whether surrounding seed plots with more established seagrass transplants provides protection for emerging seeds in restoration practices. This trial was undertaken in collaboration with the Seagrass Consortium. A total of 525 seagrass transplants were planted at the Cardiff site as part of the trials with varying degrees of success. 75 Zostera noltii transplants planted in 2024 initially showed signs of survival which would have established the presence of an additional seagrass species at the site, creating the potential for future development of a mixed meadow. However, by 2025 these transplants had been lost. 450 Zostera marina further transplants from the Project Seagrass Nursery were planted out in 2025, using coir pots of varying sizes and a mixture of plants that had been hardened outdoors in ponds at the Seagrass Nursery, while the remainder were grown inside the polytunnel. These trials allowed the team to undertake a comparison of transplant establishment by container type and nursery conditioning to inform future restoration approaches. Whilst monitoring highlighted that there had been significant loss from the initial number of transplants planted, several shoots persisted across the different planting methods. However, remaining shoots were generally found to be stressed and silt-covered, indicating environmental pressures at the site. Senior Science Officer Emma Fox undertakes monitoring at the Cardiff site Zostera noltii cores prepared for transplantation in May 2024 Throughout the programme of work, environmental data was gathered at the site to allow the team to monitor site conditions which might have impacted the success of the planting. Several environmental factors are likely to have influenced the restoration success at this particular site including elevated wave energy, high pool temperatures, silt smothering within intertidal pools, high epiphytic load, and the potential that the Zostera marina nursery stock used (from a source population in North Wales) may not represent the optimal ecotype for this environment. The Cardiff trials demonstrated that the Direct Injection Seeding method is not suitable for restoration at Cardiff under current site conditions. Transplant-based approaches showed limited but measurable persistence, with container type influencing relative survival. However, overall survival rates remain low, suggesting that environmental constraints may outweigh methodological refinements at the current scale of intervention. Further trials using transplants from a seagrass meadow in Stolford will allow the team to trial whether plants with a more comparable ecotype show higher levels of success at the site. Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Dale Bay within Pembrokeshire SAC, continued to serve
On the 7th, 8th, and 9th May, the Project Seagrass team hosted our 2026 Open Days at our Seagrass Nursery in Laugharne. The Seagrass Nursery Open Days are an annual opportunity for funders, partners, and members of the community to meet the team and learn more about the exciting work taking place on site. On the 7th and 8th May, the team were joined by representatives from Carmarthenshire Council Coastal Protection Team, Celtic Deep, Cygnet, Harth, Laugharne Citizen Science group, SeaLife, Marine Conservation Society, National Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Neath Port Talbot Council, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, qinetiq, Severn Estuary Partnership, Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Swansea Group and 360 Aquaculture. Working collaboratively is essential for successful seagrass recovery and these events provided an opportunity for local stakeholders to discuss existing projects and opportunities for collaboration. On the 9th May the Seagrass Nursery opened its doors to members of the local community with visitors from Laugharne and the surrounding area joining the team to learn about recent developments at the site and seagrass restoration activity taking place in their local area. During the Open Days, visitors had the opportunity to join Nursery Manager Emily Yates for a guided tour of the site. This provided an insight into how the team are growing seagrass, our approach to storing seeds, and the research being undertaken into the best methods for seagrass cultivation. “The Seagrass Nursery Open Days are among some of my favorite days of the year! They provide a fantastic opportunity to welcome the local community to the site to show what we’re doing in Laugharne, as well as the wider work of Project Seagrass. It is great to meet so many enthusiastic people interested in our work whether it’s a first time or a returning visitor. Each year the Open Days provide us with an opportunity to share how the Nursery is developing and evolving over time.” Nursery Manager, Emily Yates. Nursery Manager Emily Yates delivers a tour of the Seagrass Nursery site Nursery Manager Emily Yates and Senior Science Officer Emma Fox delivering a tour of the polytunnel to Nursery Open Day attendees During 2026, 3,300 seagrass transplants were sent out from the Project Seagrass Nursery to support restoration projects across the UK and over half a million seeds stored from in-field seagrass seed collections. Significant developments are currently underway at the site, with plans for 12 additional ponds to be constructed within a second polytunnel over the summer. This will support our ambitions to develop a reliable, scalable source of UK-grown seagrass plants to supply restoration projects. A range of experimental work is currently taking place on the site. Visitors learned about the team’s recent restoration activity in the local area from Senior Science Officer Emma Fox. This has included planting trials across multiple Special Areas of Conservation in South and West Wales aimed at establishing the most effective methods of planting seagrass out into the field to support habitat recovery. Find out more about the planting trials. Katie Lee, Horticulture Supervisor at Salix with Open Day visitors Visitors at the Seagrass Nursery Open Day look out from the polytunnel over the outdoor ponds Katie Lee, Horticulture Supervisor at site partner Salix hosted a stand to discuss the work taking place on the wider site in Laugharne and Salix’s work to provide sustainable solutions to the challenges found in soil erosion control and river restoration projects. Seagrass meadows are havens of biodiversity, providing habitat, food, and shelter to thousands of species of fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Visitors also had the opportunity to experience the abundance of life within a seagrass meadow through Project Seagrass’ new VR experience. With music from the organisation’s patron Coldplay and footage from Welsh seagrass meadows, the experience provides an insight into the important role that seagrass plays for wildlife. Visitors had the opportunity to Project Seagrass’ VR experience “My Seagrass Adventure” A visitor explores UK seagrass meadows as part of the “My Seagrass Adventure” VR experience Project Seagrass is grateful for the support of our Seagrass Nursery funders who make this work possible.
