The Project Seagrass team have had another busy summer of seagrass seed collections! This year collections took place in Yarmouth, Ryde, and Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the Solent, and in Porthdinllaen in North Wales. Find out more about how this summer’s collections went: Solent Seed Collection |
Last month marked the opening of a newly constructed laboratory facility at Project Seagrass’ headquarters in Bridgend, South Wales. Project Seagrass CEO Leanne Cullen-Unsworth said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch this fantastic new facility within our existing working space in Bridgend. Thanks to generous support from funders who
Earlier this year, Project Seagrass welcomed Rhys Bowen to the team to support our work in North Wales as part of the Seagrass Ocean Rescue North Wales programme. This follows on from Rhys’ involvement in the programme during 2024 where we worked as one of the Marine Futures Interns at
In a new blog series, our Conservation Trainee Abi David explores some of the amazing creatures that call seagrass meadows their home. Sea hares are odd looking creatures. They are mostly soft bodied but have a small internal shell, which separates them from their close relatives – sea slugs. The
Scientists warn that the future of our oceans and climate goals depends on reconnecting the ecological threads that hold coastal habitats together. A new study, launched at the International Seascape Symposium II at ZSL (Zoological Society of London), and published to align with UN Ocean Decade Conference represents two years
In a new blog series, our Conservation Trainee Abi David explores some of the amazing creatures that call seagrass meadows their home. Cuttlefish are molluscs and join squid and octopuses in the Cephalopod family. Predominantly found in temperate and tropical areas, 120 species can be found around the world. Cuttlefish
In this article, Project Seagrass CEO Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth reflects on the United Nations Ocean Conference: The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-organized by Costa Rica and France was held in the coastal city of Nice, France from 9 to 13 June. Over 15,000 people participated, including 2,000 scientists and
The BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Treaty is critical for protecting and enhancing seagrass. Most of the world’s seagrass is within national jurisdictions; however, in some locations, such as the Saya De Malha Bank in the Indian Ocean, seagrass is located beyond any national jurisdiction. This means it’s not legally
The seagrass is greener along Florida’s Nature Coast … figuratively, that is. A new study published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series shows that seagrass ecosystems along the northern half of Florida’s Gulf Coast have remained relatively healthy and undisturbed for the last several thousand years. This is not the case for most
At Project Seagrass, we rely on the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers who support our work to save the world’s seagrass. We couldn’t do it without you! We spoke to Lindsey, one of our regular volunteers in the Solent about her experiences of volunteering with Project Seagrass: 1. Tell
The Project Seagrass team have had another busy summer of seagrass seed collections! This year collections took place in Yarmouth, Ryde, and Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the Solent, and in Porthdinllaen in North Wales. Find out more about how this summer’s collections went: Solent Seed Collection | 11th–17th July 2025 Day 1 The team arrived safely on the Isle of Wight on the 11th July to lovely sunny weather! We installed our keep net at Cowes Harbour – this is where the seagrass seeds are stored following daily seed collections ahead of being transported to Project Seagrass HQ at the end of the week where they are processed. Day 2 The Dive team headed out to Ryde Bay. After completing man over-board drills the divers entered the water to begin collecting seeds. The team managed 90 minutes underwater before the tide turned into too difficult conditions for the divers. The Intertidal team delivered the first Community Seed Collection event of the week. Today’s collection was at Yarmouth where we were joined by 5 volunteers. Hannah and Emma carried out a meadow health survey. Senior Science Officer and Solent Lead Anouska Mendzil collecting seagrass seeds in Yarmouth Volunteer snorkelers gathered on the beach at Yarmouth for a seed collection briefing Day 3 A hot but successful dive trip in Ryde Bay for the Dive Team! Today we had two pairs of divers in the water. The first pair completed a seagrass meadow assessment and then joined the second pair who were solely focused on seed collection. The team and the boat were working really well together, however unfortunately the weather was not in the team’s favour leading to a switch to shore diving for the rest of the week. The Intertidal Team delivered the second Community Seed Collection event of the week. Today’s event took place in Ryde. The team were joined by 8 volunteers including some repeat attendees from yesterday’s event. We were joined by photographer Francesca Page and colleagues from the University of Groningen/The Seagrass Consortium. Alongside the seed collection, Hannah and Ele carried out a survey of the meadow. Day 4 The Dive Team were joined by two new volunteer divers today, Ellie and Carly. Due to the weather conditions, the team were unable to go boat diving and instead went shore diving at Yarmouth Bay. Lots of seeds were collected making it another very successful day. The Intertidal Team were back at Ryde this morning for the third Community Seed Collection event of the week. Today we were joined by repeat volunteers photographer Francesca Page and colleagues from the University of Groningen/The Seagrass Consortium. Following the seed collection, members of the team met with our partners at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Diver entering the water for seed collection Dive team aboard Gwen, preparing for seed collection Day 5 Today the Dive Team surveyed the seagrass meadow at Yarmouth and completed another seed collection. It was another blow out for the boat but a good opportunity to run through the shore diving protocol! The Intertidal Team were back at Yarmouth for a morning seed collection. Today the team were joined by members of The Seagrass Consortium. In the afternoon The Seagrass Consortium met to discuss collaboration and alignment. Days 6 & 7 The Dive team recovered Gwen before heading to Bembridge to determine if this could be another suitable site for shore diving. It ultimately wasn’t but a useful exercise! The Intertidal team delivered their final snorkel seed collection of the week. This collection took place at Bembridge and we were again joined by members of The Seagrass Consortium from the University of Groningen, Sea Rangers, and Office Français de la Biodiversité. The remainder of the day was spent preparing for our travel day back to Project Seagrass HQ. On the morning of our departure we collected the seagrass seeds from the keep net before heading back to South Wales where the seeds are now being processed. Members of the Project Seagrass team at Bembridge with members of The Seagrass Consortium Solent seagrass seeds retrieved from the keepnet and ready to travel back to Project Seagrass HQ North Wales Seed Collection | 26th July – 4th August Day 1 The team arrived safely in North Wales and headed straight to the beach at Porthdinllaen to set up Cabin Griff. We supported an initial seed collection event, providing shore cover for volunteers from our Seagrass Ocean Rescue partner WWF. Day 2 On Day 2 the Dive team launched Gwen and carried out meadow surveys. The Intertidal team had our first Community Seed Collection event. We were joined by partners from Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation and Ocean Wildlife Artist Oli Leger who brought his new artwork ‘Ambassador’ which he introduced to attendees. Project Seagrass vessel Gwen being prepared for deployment Ocean Wildlife Artist Oli Leger introducing his artwork Ambassador to people on the beach Day 3 Today the Dive Team installed the keep net and HOBO logger and carried out their first seed collection. Our Ambassador Jake joined the Dive team – today the divers collected 13kg of seeds! The Intertidal Team delivered another successful Community Seed Collection event. In the afternoon several members of the team attended a celebration event hosted by North Wales Wildlife Trust and Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau Special Conservation Area. Storyteller and National Seagrass Action Plan project Manager Carl delivered a fantastic storytelling session. Day 4 Another successful day for the Dive team! 29kg of seagrass seeds collected today!!! Today the Intertidal team were joined by volunteers from WWF and our Seagrass Ocean Rescue programme funders the National Lottery Community Fund. After the volunteer session we were joined by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies who joined us on the beach to collect seeds and learn more about the programme. Volunteers collecting seagrass seeds in Porthdinllaen North Wales WWF staff members collecting seeds in Porthdinllaen Days 5-10 The Boat team continued to carry out daily
Last month marked the opening of a newly constructed laboratory facility at Project Seagrass’ headquarters in Bridgend, South Wales. Project Seagrass CEO Leanne Cullen-Unsworth said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch this fantastic new facility within our existing working space in Bridgend. Thanks to generous support from funders who share our core values, volunteers who supported the build, and a committed and passionate core team, we now have a functional in-house lab space that will contribute to advancing the science needed for scaled environmental recovery.” The creation of the facility was made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters Greenwood Place, the Hartwood Trust, and the Suggitt family who attended the official opening event hosted by the Project Seagrass team on 2nd July. Laura Suggitt said, “Seeing the Henry Suggitt Laboratory opened after years of dedicated hard work, fundraising, and commitment from the amazing team at Project Seagrass was a dream come true. It is a space that I can imagine my brother would have loved – which makes it all the more special. I know great things are going to happen here – the future of seagrass conservation and research is in safe hands!” The multi-functional workspace will enable a range of small-scale experiments to be carried out on site, alongside species identification, seed processing, sample preparation and storage, and maintenance tasks. The Lab will play an important role in Project Seagrass’ ongoing research work which underpins the organisation’s approach to seagrass restoration and conservation efforts across the UK and internationally. It will also complement the existing facilities at Project Seagrass HQ including the organisation’s large-scale seed processing systems. The space will add further educational value to Project Seagrass’ work with university students from across the UK who will be able to utilise the space as part of project work during their year in industry with the organisation. More details on year in industry placements can be found here. Project Seagrass is extremely grateful for the generosity and shared vision of our funders which has made the construction of the Lab possible. We would also like to thank Rob & Sam Petts (RP Property Maintenance) who volunteered their time to support the build.
Earlier this year, Project Seagrass welcomed Rhys Bowen to the team to support our work in North Wales as part of the Seagrass Ocean Rescue North Wales programme. This follows on from Rhys’ involvement in the programme during 2024 where we worked as one of the Marine Futures Interns at our Seagrass Ocean Rescue partner, the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Rhys splits his time between Project Seagrass and North Wales Wildlife Trust. In this blog article Rhys reflects on recent seagrass monitoring he has been involved with in North Wales: Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of monitoring several key seagrass meadows and restoration sites across North Wales. These meadows, both old and new, play a vital role in our national marine conservation efforts. Seagrass Watch at Porthdinllaen, Llyn Peninsula In May, with the help of Dylan and Reece from North Wales Wildlife Trust, I conducted monitoring at our longstanding seed donor site in Porthdinllaen. We used the internationally recognised Seagrass Watch protocol which has been implemented at this meadow since 2015 and follows a rigorous, standardised approach. Using 50 cm² quadrats along three fixed transects, I collected data every 5 meters on: Seagrass cover. Epiphyte and algal presence. Average leaf lengths. This consistent monitoring at the same locations allows us to track changes in seagrass health over time and helps inform both conservation and restoration strategies. Seagrass meadow at Porthdinllaen. Photo Credit Rhys Bowen Project Seagrass Seagrass Watch monitoring at Porthdinllaen. Photo Credit Rhys Bowen Project Seagrass Restoration Efforts on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) As the Seagrass Ocean Rescue programme entered its fourth year, we continue to strive towards our goal to plant Zostera marina over an area of ten hectares across North Wales between 2022 and 2026. This year, at Penrhos and Penrhyn on Anglesey, we planted nearly 1 million seagrass seeds using two methods: The DIS (Dispenser Injection Seeding) technique. A manually powered seeding machine, developed by The Fieldwork Company designed to efficiently distribute mud-seed mixtures over large areas. Both methods have proved effective and the machine quickly won fans among our volunteers! Of which, none of this would be possible without the incredible support from our community groups, dedicated local volunteers, and the amazing Ocean Rescue Champions at the North Wales Wildlife Trust. Massive thanks to everyone who braved the weather and mud with us! As someone who is new to restoration, it was eye-opening to be a part of this ongoing work and witness the precision and care that goes into giving these tiny seeds the best chance of developing into healthy adult plants and meadows. First Signs of Growth In late June over the spring tides, I returned to Holyhead Bay with volunteers to assess the seagrass we had planted out in spring. We used 1m² quadrats to count seagrass shoots and measure leaf length and epiphyte coverage withing our planting plots. Following this period of monitoring I’m thrilled to report: Seagrass is growing across nearly all our planted plots. Shoots from both planting methods (DIS and Seeding machine) have emerged. Some leaves have already reached lengths of 12 cm and appear healthy. Monitoring will continue throughout the year alongside collection of environmental data. This will continue to inform and support our restoration work. The Seagrass Ocean Rescue team would like to thank the partners and volunteers for their continued support. Keep an eye out for more opportunities to get involved by signing up to our newsletter! Seagrass Watch Monitoring in Porthdinllaen
In a new blog series, our Conservation Trainee Abi David explores some of the amazing creatures that call seagrass meadows their home. Sea hares are odd looking creatures. They are mostly soft bodied but have a small internal shell, which separates them from their close relatives – sea slugs. The sea hare gets it name from the two rhinophores sticking out from the top of the head as they look like the ears of hares. However, these appendages aren’t used for hearing, but for taste and smell. A sea hare’s favourite snack is seaweed, but they also eat seagrass. Interestingly, the colour of the seaweed species most prominent in their diet influences the colour of the sea hare individual, for example: diets made from mostly sea lettuce will lead to a green body colour and reddish-maroon sea hares will be eating mostly red seaweeds. Sea Hare on seagrass. Photo Credit Lewis M Jefferies A Sea Hare within an Orcadian seagrass meadow. Photo Credit Lewis M Jefferies When threatened, they can produce a cloud of ink which the sea hare can hide in to confuse predators. Scientists have found that this ink has antibacterial properties, thought to be useful in healing wounds and combating harmful bacteria. Additionally, they can produce a slime on their skin which makes the sea hare less tasty and puts predators off from eating it. Sea hare species can range from 2 to 70cm, but the ones found around the UK – Aplysia punctata or dotted sea hare – are on the smaller size of 7 – 8cm and can be found throughout the year in rock pools and shallow waters. They lay their eggs in long string-like structures attached to seagrass, with the seagrass meadow acting as a nursery environment when the eggs hatch. They are hermaphrodites, meaning individuals have both male and female mating organs. Despite this, they still reproduce with others, usually in a line with multiple individuals. Sea Hares in seagrass As well as seaweeds, sea hares will consume seagrasses too. As with many marine species, seagrass meadows provide an important nursery habitat. By attaching developing eggs to seagrass leaves, the eggs are protected from strong currents and predators, as well as providing a food source for newly hatched sea hares. Some species, such as the Phyllaplysia taylori or eelgrass hare, live solely on seagrass. Evidence has shown presence of sea hares increases seagrass productivity as a result of grazing on epiphytes on the leaves. A build-up of too many epiphytes will block the leaves ability to photosynthesize, so these little creatures can be very handy for us seagrass scientists! Sea Hare (with egg strings) on a blade of seagrass. Photo credit Lewis M Jefferies But do sea hares benefit society? Yes! They form an important part of diets around the world. For example, in Hawaii, people wrap the sea hare in to leaves and cook it in an underground oven, called an imu. In the Philippines, egg strands, known as lokot, are eaten raw with vinegar and spices. Samoa, Kiribati and Fuji also have sea hares as part of the traditional diet. Often it is women that will go out and collect the sea hares at low tide on mudflats and seagrass meadows and then sell them at markets, so sea hares have an important economic benefit to these societies too. For further information about how grazers such as the sea hare are beneficial to seagrass, look at this article.
Scientists warn that the future of our oceans and climate goals depends on reconnecting the ecological threads that hold coastal habitats together. A new study, launched at the International Seascape Symposium II at ZSL (Zoological Society of London), and published to align with UN Ocean Decade Conference represents two years of work by an international team led by the University of Portsmouth, with support from ZSL and University of Edinburgh. It delivers the most comprehensive report to date on how coastal habitats in temperate regions function not in isolation, but as interconnected systems—a concept known as ecological connectivity. “Coastal habitats like oyster reefs, salt marshes, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows are often treated as separate entities in policy and restoration, but in reality, they are tightly bound together by the flows of water, life, and energy,” said lead author Professor Joanne Preston, Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. “To meet our global climate and biodiversity targets, we need to restore the entire seascape.” Published in npj Ocean Sustainability to coincide with World Ocean Day and the midpoint of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the paper makes the case that reconnecting these habitats is fundamental to repairing the damage caused by centuries of degradation, and to achieving international targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Schematic figure illustrating how structural connectivity, functional connectivity, mechanisms and ecosystem service delivery relate. Examples of structural connectivity are denoted by blue arrows and font, functional connectivity by orange arrows and font and mechanisms are indicated by green arrows and font. The light blue icons provide examples of ecosystem services delivery enhanced by the connectivity across seascape habitats. Credit: npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00128-3 Conceptual diagram of how ecosystem services from a restored and connected seascape underpins the interrelationships between climate mitigation, biodiversity and human wellbeing. Credit npj Ocean Sustainability 2025 Dr. Philine zu Ermgassen, Changing Oceans Group, University of Edinburgh, said, “Ecological connectivity allows organisms, nutrients, sediment, and energy to move between different marine habitats. These exchanges drive crucial ecosystem services—from carbon storage to water filtration, coastal protection to fishery productivity.” The research compiles evidence from global temperate regions showing that habitat co-location consistently improves ecosystem service delivery. In California, for example, seagrasses grow more robustly when adjacent to oyster reefs. On the U.S. East Coast in the Chesapeake Bay region, oyster beds dramatically increase water clarity and nutrient removal. Additionally, in New Zealand, kelp-derived carbon boosts fish populations in fjords. “Connected habitats are more productive, more resilient, and more beneficial to people,” said co-author Alison Debney, Estuaries and Wetlands Program Lead at ZSL. “Restoring isolated patches isn’t enough. We need to think like the sea—fluid, linked, dynamic— and we need to act at scale.” In response, the authors propose a formal definition of seascape restoration: the concurrent or sequential restoration of multiple habitats to rebuild functional, resilient, and connected marine ecosystems. They call for a shift away from “feature-based” conservation approaches toward holistic, connectivity-based planning. This includes updating marine protected area (MPA) frameworks, development policies, and restoration funding criteria to account for the value of ecological links across habitats. “We are at a critical moment,” said Professor Preston. “The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Decade of Ocean Science give us the tools and momentum. But unless we restore the seascape as a whole—the full mosaic of habitats and their connections—we risk missing the targets set by policymakers.” The study outlines clear recommendations to policymakers, including: Mainstreaming seascape connectivity into climate and biodiversity policies Integrating restoration goals across land-sea interfaces Recognizing the role of connectivity in climate mitigation and adaptation Updating environmental assessments to evaluate ecosystem service delivery at the seascape scale Illustration of the role of connectivity in modulating ecosystem service delivery across the coastal seascape. Arrows relate to icons of the same color, with the arrowhead indicating the habitat in which the ecosystem service is enhanced through connectivity with the source habitat. Credit: npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00128-3 “We need to view coastal habitats as interconnected systems,” said co-author Rosalie Wright, Blue Marine Foundation. “Our fragmented policy and regulatory approaches must transition to holistic, seascape-scale thinking. Addressing these barriers will enable the urgently needed recovery of our coastlines.” This work directly supports Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for at least 30% of degraded coastal and marine ecosystems to be under effective restoration by 2030, specifically enhancing connectivity and ecological function. The findings come amid growing concern over the collapse of marine habitats in temperate zones. Over the past two centuries, the U.K. alone has lost up to 95% of its oyster reefs, over 90% of its seagrasses, and vast expanses of saltmarsh. These losses jeopardize not only biodiversity but also carbon storage, fish stocks, and coastal protection. Restoring at scale and in a way that mirrors the ecological realities of the coast offers a powerful nature-based solution to the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. As the world gathers momentum around ocean recovery, the message from the science is unequivocal: seascape-scale restoration is not optional. It is essential. More information: J. Preston et al, Seascape connectivity: evidence, knowledge gaps and implications for temperate coastal ecosystem restoration practice and policy, npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00128-3
In a new blog series, our Conservation Trainee Abi David explores some of the amazing creatures that call seagrass meadows their home. Cuttlefish are molluscs and join squid and octopuses in the Cephalopod family. Predominantly found in temperate and tropical areas, 120 species can be found around the world. Cuttlefish have an internal shell, known as the cuttlebone, which helps with buoyancy. By changing the gas to liquid ration, they can determine how much they float. Their diet generally consists of small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, small fish, octopuses and worms. To catch their prey, they use suckers attached to their two tentacles, which shoot out and grab unsuspecting victims. The flamboyant cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) even uses venom to subdue its prey. To escape predators themselves, they can propel themselves forwards or backwards by expelling a powerful jet of water from their mantle cavity (main body). Cuttlefish in seagrass, Cornwall, UK. Credit Shannon Moran Ocean Image Bank Cuttlefish. Credit François Baelen Ocean Image Bank Like other cephalopods, cuttlefish have quite sophisticated eyes. They have two spots of highly concentrated sensor cells on their retinas – meaning they can look both forwards and backwards at the same time. This ability is aided by their W- shaped pupil, giving them a wide field of vision. It is thought cuttlefish eyes are fully developed before hatching, enabling them to begin observing their environment whilst still in the egg. Part of why I love cuttlefish so much is their ability to change colour using skin cells called chromatophores. They do this by expanding and contracting these cells to resemble colours and patterns found within their environment for camouflage and warning off predators. I could go on a lot more about this amazing ability, but this article by Gilmore, Crook, & Krans, gives a nice, detailed overview. So how do they utilise seagrass? Seagrass is an important habitat for cuttlefish. Many other creatures such as crabs, worms and snails call seagrass home, basically providing them with an all you can eat buffet. Additionally, like many other species, cuttlefish lay eggs on seagrass leaves as meadows provide a sheltered environment safe from currents and tides that may wash eggs away. Once these eggs have hatched, seagrass meadows provide a safe nursery site from predators. Cuttlefish eggs in seagrass, Dale, West Wales Why do we need cuttlefish? As with every other species on the planet, cuttlefish have their own unique purpose in the ecosystem. They are predators of a variety of species, meaning they help control populations – which is important to maintain a healthy ecosystem balance. They themselves are prey for commercial fish species such as Atlantic cod. In parts of the Mediterranean, Asia, and Europe, they provide an important part of human diets. Cuttlefish are, in my opinion, a hugely underrated species. Not only are they super cool with their colour changing abilities, but they are also an important part of many habitats and ecosystems across the globe. More information: Gilmore, R., Crook, R. & Krans, J. L. (2016) Cephalopod Camouflage: Cells and Organs of the Skin. Nature Education 9(2):1
In this article, Project Seagrass CEO Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth reflects on the United Nations Ocean Conference: The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, co-organized by Costa Rica and France was held in the coastal city of Nice, France from 9 to 13 June. Over 15,000 people participated, including 2,000 scientists and more than 60 world leaders. Discussions aimed to shine a light on the challenges of unlocking sustainable ocean investment and how to reinforce the role of marine science in policymaking. Our Project Seagrass team was delighted to be able to attend and contribute to the Conference receiving special accreditation to join the full programme by the UN. The Conference was insightful, inspiring, hopeful, overwhelming, challenging, in short it evoked an epic rollercoaster of emotions both negative and positive respectively around the declining health of our oceans and the demonstrated passion to drive change shown by individuals from across the globe. There was much conversation about David Attenborough’s ‘Ocean’, with divided opinion on the contents and emphasis of the film. For me, this was Sir David doing what he does best and providing an engaging and heartfelt narrative to grip a generalist audience of millions and share the beauty and importance of our ocean whilst highlighting a very real and current threat. Regardless of opinion, the impact of ‘Ocean’ was clear as a persistent thread through the narrative of the conference, and subsequent commitments from governments across the globe to strengthen protection of designated marine areas. This includes the UK Government proposing bottom trawling bans in all English offshore marine protected areas. It’s a start, but we need continued public pressure to ensure a move from proposal to action. We also need much bigger commitments to save our ocean which in turn, if healthy, will respond to the nature and climate crises we are facing. It was encouraging to observe in the Blue Zone some high-level dialogue drawing the connections between land and sea, with even land-locked countries demonstrating interest in ocean health and their impact on it. It’s critical that we target preserving and increasing biodiversity across environmental boundaries for sustainable futures. It’s also clear that we’ve actually moved beyond a need for sustainability. To sustain is to maintain in the same state, when what we so clearly need is environmental recovery at scale and through a connected approach. We will not achieve any environmental or human wellbeing targets taken in isolation. It was repeatedly acknowledged that the ocean is our lifeline, and not just for the 40% of humanity living along coastlines or three billion people reliant on seafood across the globe, but for everyone. Our ocean and the biodiversity it contains sustains life on our planet as we know it. Every part of the global ocean in important, and every part is threatened. Coastal waters, containing 70% of marine biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable at the interface of land and sea with both land-based and ocean-based threats having an impact. Lots of emotive statements were made, all the right words but the associated specific actions needed to drive change and achieve any targets seem elusive. There also seemed to be an imbalance in terms of habitat representation. Seagrass was one coastal habitat receiving limited attention at the United Nations Ocean Conference. Which highlights that there is still much to do to gain acknowledgement that this is a critical habitat alongside, for example, better understood coral reefs, mangroves, and saltmarshes. Seagrass is a habitat that underpins marine biodiversity and delivers a wide range of ecosystem services vital to planetary health, climate resilience, and human wellbeing. Seagrass does this to varying degrees across its near global range. Seagrass systems contribute to targets within all the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, they remain underrepresented in global scale conservation and climate initiatives, and on the formal programme at such a significant conference. UNOC3 was held at the midpoint of the UN Ocean Decade. A decade dedicated to delivering the science we need for the ocean we want. But five years into the decade, our oceans remain far from recovery. We are not on target to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 (life below water) which means we will also be unable to meet other dependent SDGs. Knowledge is improving and the science is clear, but we need to be better at sharing and building on each other’s advances. We also need clearer pathways to influence decision making. In fact, the conference highlighted multiple needs for any chance of achieving ocean recovery at scale. This list is long, but here are just a few examples: We need explicit processes for different sectors to be able to contribute the vast amounts of data that is currently sat on inaccessible hard drives or within unsearchable grey literature. There were repetitive calls for both new and existing data to be shared, this sharing of data and knowledge would serve to turbocharge rather than duplicate efforts on the road to planetary recovery. This goes hand in hand with a need for improved funding for evidence based environmental recovery practices. For me this shouldn’t be an emphasis on initiatives towards financial gain for investors but rather an investment in the resource that sustains and fulfils us all. Too often that connection feels lost, which is disheartening and concerning. Governments need to analyse and respond to the needs of communities. How do they do this? They need data! And sectors within Governments need to work together and pull in the same direction with coordinated approaches. We need to communicate effectively beyond disciplinary, national, and sector boundaries. Finding common language is challenging. Another recurring theme. Critically, we need people to reconnect with nature, and possibly more than that, recognise that we are nature – we need trees, fish, saltmarsh, seagrass and all the wellbeing benefits that they provide – people are disconnected and that’s a big problem. This raises questions of justice and equality, social justice is needed to improve our shared environment. The conference concluded with the adoption of a political
The BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Treaty is critical for protecting and enhancing seagrass. Most of the world’s seagrass is within national jurisdictions; however, in some locations, such as the Saya De Malha Bank in the Indian Ocean, seagrass is located beyond any national jurisdiction. This means it’s not legally protected. Also referred to as the High Seas Treaty, the BBNJ Treaty may play a role in helping to protect such seagrass. Indirect Protection through Ocean Health The BBNJ Treaty focuses on the high seas, which are areas beyond the jurisdiction of any single nation. However, the health of the high seas is intrinsically linked to the health of coastal ecosystems. Threats like plastics, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices originate or have significant impacts on the high seas, but their effects cascade into coastal areas where seagrass thrives. By addressing these broader ocean health issues, the BBNJ Treaty indirectly benefits seagrass meadows. Seagrass at Saya De Malha Bank in the Indian Ocean. Credit: © Tommy Trenchard / Greenpeace Addressing Climate Change Impacts Seagrass meadows are incredibly efficient at absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. However, they are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The BBNJ Treaty recognises the need to address the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. By promoting healthier oceans overall, it supports the resilience of seagrass in the face of warming waters and ocean acidification. Cross-Sectoral Coordination and Management The BBNJ Treaty aims to establish a more coherent and cooperative approach to ocean governance. It seeks to fill regulatory and institutional gaps in the existing international law framework. This improved coordination among different sectors (e.g., shipping, fishing, deep-sea mining) and regions can lead to more effective management of human activities that might otherwise negatively impact marine environments, including those that influence seagrass health. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) The BBNJ Treaty establishes rules and thresholds for conducting environmental impact assessments for activities planned on the high seas. While these activities might not directly occur in seagrass beds, their potential impacts on ocean currents, water quality, and marine species that interact with seagrass (e.g., migratory species that use both high seas and coastal habitats) can be significant. By requiring EIAs, the treaty promotes a more cautious approach to new activities, reducing potential harm. Capacity Building and Technology Transfer The treaty includes provisions for capacity building and the transfer of marine technology, particularly to developing countries. This can empower nations, especially those with extensive coastlines and seagrass resources, to better monitor, research, and manage their marine environments, including seagrass ecosystems. Establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) While seagrass meadows are typically within national waters, the BBNJ Treaty provides a legal framework for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas. Healthier ocean ecosystems can contribute to the resilience of coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows, by supporting migratory species, maintaining ecological balance, and reducing overall pressures on the marine environment. In essence, we need the BBNJ Treaty’s because the focus on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction creates a stronger, more integrated, and more resilient global ocean. This, in turn, provides a more favourable environment for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of critical coastal ecosystems like seagrass. So, if you support the conservation of seagrass, you need to support the BBNJ treaty by lobbying your national politicians to agree to the treaty and to then ratify it. So far, 137 countries have signed but only 50 have ratified, to become law, it requires 60 countries. Check yours here: Progress Map – High Seas Alliance Treaty Ratification
The seagrass is greener along Florida’s Nature Coast … figuratively, that is. A new study published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series shows that seagrass ecosystems along the northern half of Florida’s Gulf Coast have remained relatively healthy and undisturbed for the last several thousand years. This is not the case for most other seagrass ecosystems the world over, nearly 30% of which have disappeared since 1879. An estimated 7% of seagrass beds were lost each year between 1990 and 2009. Those that remain are generally not faring well, and the discovery of a healthy refugium is a rare event. “Nothing is really pristine today, because humans have altered all of Earth’s environments, but this is about as good as it gets,” said Michal Kowalewski, senior author of the study and the Thompson chair of invertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Figuring this out wasn’t easy, though. The extraordinary changes humans have made to the planet not only jeopardized the health of entire ecosystems, but they’ve also made it nearly impossible for us to know what a healthy ecosystem should look like in the first place. “Most of the contemporary biological data we have postdates the Industrial Revolution,” Kowalewski said. “If you think about any type of real-time instrumentation that collects physical and chemical information about an environment, or if you think about the rigorous bio-inventory surveys, all of those things are from the last 50 to 100 years at most.” In other words, humans have been altering their surroundings much longer than they’ve been systematically observing them. Fortunately, we aren’t the only thing that keeps a record of the past. Earth does a pretty good job of it, too. That’s the idea behind a relatively new branch of science called conservation paleobiology, which uses the most recent fossil record to reconstruct past ecosystems. For this method to work well, scientists need to analyze a large number of fossils, but there are only a few types of organisms that are preserved in sufficient quantities. Seagrasses, which are entirely composed of soft tissues that rapidly decompose after death, are not one of them. This isn’t a hindrance to paleobiologists, though. Unlike modern grass lawns, which are ecologically barren and in which hardly anything lives but the grass itself, seagrass meadows are underwater oases for coastal marine organisms. This includes a variety of animals that produce hard shells, which are disproportionately represented in the fossil record. The shells of oysters, clams and other mollusks disintegrate so slowly that they stay around the ocean floor from hundreds to millions of years. Kowalewski and his colleagues have previously conducted extensive research showing that the fossils of mollusks and other marine organisms with tough exteriors are so tightly connected and dependent on their environments that they can be used as a surrogate for species that don’t normally get preserved. If mollusks are doing well, it’s likely that everything else is too. To find out if seagrass communities along Florida’s Nature Coast have recently degraded, the study authors sampled from 21 locations in six estuaries, from the mouth of the Steinhatchee River in the north to that of the Weeki Wache in the south. At each site, they used a long hose made from PVC pipe to suction up sections of the seafloor. “We collect sediment samples while scuba diving, and then we sieve those samples and extract all that we find in it,” Kowalewski said. “The samples are dominated by dead material, because it has accumulated there over many centuries. Typically, for every live bivalve or snail, we find thousands of dead specimens.” The odious task of counting and identifying the specimens took his team members several years to complete. Once they’d crunched the numbers, their results showed that mollusk diversity—and the health of seagrass meadows, by extension—hasn’t changed much over the last several millennia, including the most recent one in which humans have left their mark on even the most challenging and inhospitable environments. “Only rarely do we find historical evidence that can make us optimistic about the current state of a local ecosystem,” Kowalewski said. “Most conservation paleobiology studies tell depressing stories about shrinking habitats, declining biodiversity and diminishing ecosystem services. For once, at least, this is not the case. What’s thrilling to me is we can show this system is still in very good condition, which makes it even more important to protect it.” Establishing that the seagrass meadows found along the Nature Coast are relatively unchanged is also important because they can be now used with more confidence as a benchmark for assessing the state of heavily altered seagrass habitats and guiding their restoration. Just 50 miles south of the study’s sampling area, seagrass communities haven’t been as lucky. Between 1950 and 1980, the city of Tampa’s population increased from about 125,000 people to 270,000. During that same period, 46% of seagrass meadows in Tampa Bay disappeared. Aggressive nutrient reduction efforts in the region led to water quality improvements and the recovery of seagrass in Tampa Bay between 1999 and 2018—however, recent assessments have again shown significant reductions in seagrass followed by modest recoveries. On the opposite coast, a survey from 1999 indicated as much as 60% of seagrass coverage had been lost in a 56-mile stretch of the Indian River Lagoon. These die-offs are primarily caused by nutrient pollution from inland farms and coastal cities. Plumes of single-celled microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria feast on excess nutrients and multiply in the water column, creating what are, in effect, marine clouds. This significantly reduces the amount of light that reaches the seafloor, which seagrasses don’t tolerate well. The Nature Coast, which was designated an aquatic preserve in 2020, has largely avoided these challenges. “There’s not a lot of development in those watersheds, particularly from the area around Weeki Wachee all the way up into the Panhandle, so the effects of excess nutrient delivery are not as pronounced as is in other places that have suffered as a consequence,” said study co-author Thomas Frazer, dean and professor of biological oceanography at
At Project Seagrass, we rely on the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers who support our work to save the world’s seagrass. We couldn’t do it without you! We spoke to Lindsey, one of our regular volunteers in the Solent about her experiences of volunteering with Project Seagrass: 1. Tell us a little about yourself. Hi my name is Lindsey. I was born in the East End of London which was pretty nature depleted but every year we went to the North Coast of Cornwall on holiday. This was a wild landscape and I fell in love with the natural world here. Twenty years ago, my family and I decided to move to the Isle of Wight to be closer to the sea and the natural world. For most of my working life, I have been a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist working for the NHS; I retired four years ago and since then have been involved in a variety of volunteering roles around protecting and restoring nature, particularly our sea and the life within it. This has been an amazing time, allowing me to become more deeply involved with the natural world. Volunteer, Lindsey Fragment Walk at Priory Bay, Isle of Wight. Photo by Francesca Page @francescapagephoto 2. How did you first hear about Project Seagrass and what inspired you to get involved? I had started volunteering with The Solent Seascape Project whose aim is to restore four important habitats including seagrass across the Solent area and Project Seagrass has a large role in this restoration work. I heard of Project Seagrass’s work restoring seagrass on beaches near to me and was keen to become involved. Project Seagrass have been carrying out some really innovative work trialling different methods of re-growing seagrass locally. Also, they were keen to involve local volunteers which was great for me. 3. What have you enjoyed most about volunteering? The most important part of volunteering is feeling that I am part of work that is making a really positive difference to our sea, the life in it, and the wider natural environment. Through Project Seagrass, I have learnt a lot about seagrass, its role in the ecosystem, its history and what it needs to thrive. I have loved doing the practical work: finding the seagrass seeds and the plants that have washed ashore and preparing them for replanting. I really enjoy passing on what I have learnt to family, friends and the wider community so people understand more about seagrass and its importance. It feels great to be part of a project and a team that is working hard to restore our amazing seagrass meadows. 4. Why is seagrass important to you? The sea is incredibly important to me and should be to us all. Without a thriving sea, we do not thrive or even possibly survive. Seagrass is a very important marine habitat. It provides a home, locally for Seahorses and Cuttlefish; it is a nursery for species such a skates; it provides protection for our local coast and can sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide. What is there not to love about seagrass. We have started snorkelling in our local sea and coming across seagrass meadows is mesmerising and so beautiful. However, most seagrass in our seas has been lost over the last hundred years and it needs our help to survive and flourish. 5. What would you say to someone who is thinking of volunteering? I would definitely recommend volunteering for Project Seagrass. The work is fun and fulfilling. The staff are very keen to involve volunteers and to pass on their knowledge and experience which is great. It has been lovely to be part of a friendly team of staff and volunteers and there has always been a very positive atmosphere and a feeling of a job well done at the end of the day. You can be part of making a really positive difference to our seas-why not give it a try! Join us Find out more about volunteering with Project Seagrass and sign up today! If you have any questions about volunteering with Project Seagrass, get in touch with us at volunteers@projectseagrass.org.
