Chief Conservation Officer Dr Benjamin Jones reflects on the IUCN World Conservation Congress: The IUCN World Conservation Congress is, at its core, about knowledge exchange. Experiencing it first-hand made clear just how ambitious and wide-ranging that exchange has become. Across the week, the Congress unfolded through a programme of workshops,
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust have selected Project Seagrass’ Chief Conservation Officer and Co-Founder Dr. Benjamin Jones as the recipient of the inaugural Davidson Science Award. The award has been established to recognize transformative scientific contributions to flats conservation, coastal inshore waters utilized by anglers which are dominated by seagrass meadows.
Cynhaliwyd Symposiwm Morwellt 2025 y DU yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos ddiwethaf, gan ddod â gwyddonwyr, gweithwyr cadwraeth proffesiynol, ymarferwyr, a grwpiau cymunedol ynghyd o bob rhan o’r DU. Wedi’i gynnal gan Brosiect Morwellt, y digwyddiad oedd y cyntaf yng nghyfres Symposiwm Morwellt y DU (UKSS) i dderbyn cymeradwyaeth fel Gweithgaredd
The UK Seagrass Symposium 2025 took place in Cardiff last week, bringing together scientists, conservation professionals, practitioners, and community groups from across the UK. Hosted by Project Seagrass, the event was the first in the UK Seagrass Symposium (UKSS) series to receive endorsement as an official Ocean Decade Activity as
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
Between the 11th and 13th November 2025, scientists, conservation professionals, practitioners, and community groups from across the UK will converge in Cardiff for the 2025 UK Seagrass Symposium (UKSS). Hosted by Project Seagrass, the event will build upon the success of the inaugural UKSS (hosted by Ocean Conservation Trust and
Seagrass meadows and their elusive inhabitants, dugongs, are under threat across Asia. To tackle this, conservation experts, policymakers, and researchers from across the region gathered in Bangkok in February 2025 for the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation. The goal? To find real, actionable solutions to the challenges
Between the 8th and 10th April 2025, Project Seagrass will join other scientists and conservation professionals in Arcachon, France for the 2nd European Seagrass Restoration Workshop. Hosted by The Seagrass Consortium the workshop follows on from the inaugural workshop held in Portinho da Arrábida, Portugal in 2010. The 2025 workshop
It’s already been one month since the 12th International Seagrass Biology Workshop began at Nant Gwrtheyrn in Wales. This time last month the world’s foremost seagrass scientists were descending on the Llŷn Peninsula and the Project Seagrass team were in the midst of the final preparations for hosting the largest International Seagrass Biology Workshop
First off, the stereotype of a conference in my head is hushed voices, fancy clothes and everything deadly serious, but throw into the mix that it’s a conference based around seagrass and I was completely at a loss as to what to expect. Having packed for all possibilities (would the
Chief Conservation Officer Dr Benjamin Jones reflects on the IUCN World Conservation Congress: The IUCN World Conservation Congress is, at its core, about knowledge exchange. Experiencing it first-hand made clear just how ambitious and wide-ranging that exchange has become. Across the week, the Congress unfolded through a programme of workshops, panel discussions, films, exhibitions, demonstrations, and informal conversations. The scale was remarkable. At any given moment, the real challenge was not finding relevant sessions, but choosing which ones to miss. The number of talks alone was extraordinary. Major thematic sessions were held in plenary across five large halls, complemented by collaboratoriums designed for deeper discussion. Alongside this, the exhibition hall functioned as a Congress within a Congress. Around 30 pavilions, each focused on a particular theme, geography or sector, ran their own mini-conferences, often for 20 to 30 people at a time. These spaces created opportunities for focused dialogue with practitioners, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, researchers, and businesses. These pavilions reflected the breadth of the global conservation movement. There were dedicated spaces for the Americas, Indigenous Peoples, youth, business, and regional IUCN hubs including Arabia, Mongolia and Japan. IUCN also hosted a parallel virtual programme, with many sessions broadcast online so participants could engage without travelling to Abu Dhabi. This level of accessibility and exchange was impressive, if also slightly overwhelming, as I often found myself wanting to attend several sessions simultaneously. Learning Beyond the Marine Space One of the most valuable aspects of the Congress for me was the opportunity to learn from beyond the marine conservation space. I spend much of my time at ocean-focused conferences, surrounded by familiar narratives and challenges. At IUCN, the strong presence of terrestrial conservation organisations offered a different perspective, and a useful reminder that many of the issues we face are shared. Despite differences in ecosystem and context, the challenges are strikingly similar. Organisations across land and sea are grappling with long-term financing, governance complexity, equity and justice, and the difficulty of translating global commitments into local action. Seeing how these issues are addressed in terrestrial conservation reinforced the value of cross-ecosystem learning and collaboration. People of the Oceans: Centring Communities in Ocean Action A highlight of the Congress was the People of the Oceans Breakthrough session. The session brought together Indigenous Peoples, local communities, governments and supporting organisations from around the world to collectively shape a path forward for ocean and climate action. The discussion was held in an interactive fishbowl format and marked an important step towards defining a People of the Oceans Breakthrough. The aim is to ensure that Indigenous and local coastal peoples’ knowledge, rights and leadership sit at the centre of the global ocean agenda. The session opened with a powerful performance by Kevin Chang of Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo from Hawai‘i. His song, celebrating the deep connection between people, culture and the ocean, set a tone grounded in relationship and reciprocity. In their opening remarks, Thomas Sberna and Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy of IUCN called for a coordinated ocean and climate community that moves from commitment to implementation, with People of the Ocean at its heart. They emphasised that local stakeholders are best placed to drive this agenda forward. As Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy noted, while the Ocean, Mangrove and emerging Seagrass Breakthroughs are critical, none can succeed without the leadership of local and Indigenous communities. This is the foundation on which the People of the Oceans Breakthrough has been built. Advancing Marine Conservation Breakthroughs My own contributions to the Congress focused on advancing marine conservation from ambition to delivery. I was invited as a panel speaker for the session “Advancing the Marine Conservation Breakthrough: Connecting Global Action to Scale Marine Nature-Based Solutions.” The session placed Marine Nature-Based Solutions firmly at the centre of efforts to deliver on both climate and biodiversity goals. The discussion brought together governments, finance institutions, private sector actors and expert practitioners to highlight concrete opportunities to protect and restore coastal marine ecosystems at scale. My contribution focused on the practical realities of implementation, including how initiatives such as the Seagrass Breakthrough can bridge global commitments with locally led action. The session also provided updates on progress across the Ocean Breakthroughs campaign, including the Seagrass Breakthrough. I also delivered formal remarks during the session on Mobilising the Ocean Breakthroughs for Ecosystem Conservation in the MENA Region. This closed-door, high-level dialogue formed the culmination of the MENA Oceans Summit 2025 and brought together board members, policymakers, partners and regional stakeholders. My remarks focused on the Seagrass Breakthrough and its relevance to the region, highlighting opportunities for regional leadership, innovation and scalable conservation. The session showcased transformative projects linked to the Mangrove, Seagrass and Coral Breakthroughs, while identifying synergies and shared priorities across the region. From Congress to Consequence What stood out most from the IUCN World Conservation Congress was the clear shift towards delivery. Across ecosystems, sectors and regions, there was a shared recognition that ambition now needs to translate into action. The Congress demonstrated that the knowledge, networks and frameworks are already in place. The task ahead is to ensure that implementation is inclusive, locally led and grounded in the realities of the people most closely connected to nature.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust have selected Project Seagrass’ Chief Conservation Officer and Co-Founder Dr. Benjamin Jones as the recipient of the inaugural Davidson Science Award. The award has been established to recognize transformative scientific contributions to flats conservation, coastal inshore waters utilized by anglers which are dominated by seagrass meadows. The award is named in tribute to Tom Davidson, Sr., Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Founding Chairman and an influential leader in business and conservation. For the past two years, Ben has been collaborating with the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and scientists from Florida International University on an alternative fishery assessment project that was designed to address long-standing challenges in managing data-poor fisheries. Upon receiving the award, Ben said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive the inaugural Davidson Science Award. This work began as an idea to bridge science and lived experiences, and its success shows what’s possible when we rethink how fisheries can be assessed and more strongly bring fishers on that journey with us. With this support, we can scale this work across the region and help secure a more resilient future for bonefish, tarpon, permit, and the coastal communities that rely on them. Bonefish fishery, South Florida. Credit Ian Wilson Dr Benjamin Jones receiving the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s inaugural Davidson Science Award Recognizing that traditional stock assessments are often impractical for data-poor fisheries, Ben worked closely with fishing guides in South Florida who are highly dependent on seagrass meadows to devise new ways to understand and manage an important seagrass associated catch-and-release recreational fishery. In the initial phase of this project, Ben led an extensive literature review across multiple fields on the use and optimization of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK). Of the c.400 studies reviewed, results highlighted the primarily qualitative nature of the studies, the lack of replicability, and underutilization in seagrass fisheries, all of which presented opportunities for quantitative studies to feed into ongoing fisheries management and conservation. Utilizing the concept of the Wisdom of Crowds, the project subsequently tested whether estimates of fishing quality from diverse groups (in this case, multiple ages and years of fishing experience) were more accurate than estimates provided by homogenous groups. Results showed that estimates from small diverse crowds (multiple ages and years of experience) outperformed most estimates from larger homogenous crowds with responses aligning with the empirical data available. Through this work, an innovative method, now termed a Best Catch Assessment (BECAA), was developed utilizing local knowledge to determine historic trends and current fishery status. The method builds upon the work Dr. Andrea Sáenz-Arroyo, a researcher working with coastal communities in Mexico, by asking two key questions surrounding best catch in the past and current best catch. A BECAA has already been successfully applied to assess the bonefish fishery in South Florida, demonstrating its effectiveness and promise for broader conservation efforts. With $50,000 in support from the Davidson Science Award, Ben will lead new assessments for other seagrass-associated species and initiate the process of applying the method in additional locations across the region. “Dr. Jones’ work on alternative methods to assess fisheries reflects a pioneering approach that will have a positive influence on how we manage not only the flats fishery, but data poor fisheries globally,” said Dr. Aaron Adams, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Director of Science and Conservation. The work has the potential to be utilized in further seagrass contexts. “This is also an opportunity to bring this to even more places globally, in places where people depend on coastal habitats for food and livelihoods for example and ensure that conservation decisions are informed by the people who will be affected by them” said Ben. A bonefish swims through a seagrass meadow in South Florida. Credit Ian Wilson Bonefish in seagrass. Credit Ian Wilson About Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. BTT pursues this mission through science-based conservation, education, and advocacy across Florida, The Bahamas, Belize and Mexico, as well as in coastal states from Texas to Virginia. Learn more at: www.BTT.org. About the Davidson Science Award The Davidson Science Award honors the legacy of Tom Davidson, Sr., whose leadership has shaped both the corporate and conservation landscapes. As Founding Chairman of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Davidson helped establish BTT’s enduring mission to conserve the flats fishery through science, education, and advocacy. He also served on the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary Advisory Board and as V.P. Director of Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys, and was a director of the Everglades Foundation. With the decline of the bonefish fishery in the Florida Keys the talk of the fishing community in the 1990s, Tom Davidson took decisive action. With a core founding group, Tom created Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited. BTU (now BTT) was unique in multiple ways: it was the first organization to focus on conservation of the flats fishery; BTT engages the fishing community as a core tenet; and Tom’s vision was for BTT to be a science-based organization that conducts collaborative science to address real conservation needs. This innovative combination of vision, collaboration, and action has enabled BTT to be far more influential in regional flats and coastal conservation than anyone imagined. This award is aimed at continuing that legacy by supporting innovative science that contributes to transformative conservation.
Cynhaliwyd Symposiwm Morwellt 2025 y DU yng Nghaerdydd yr wythnos ddiwethaf, gan ddod â gwyddonwyr, gweithwyr cadwraeth proffesiynol, ymarferwyr, a grwpiau cymunedol ynghyd o bob rhan o’r DU. Wedi’i gynnal gan Brosiect Morwellt, y digwyddiad oedd y cyntaf yng nghyfres Symposiwm Morwellt y DU (UKSS) i dderbyn cymeradwyaeth fel Gweithgaredd Degawd Cefnfor swyddogol fel rhan o Ddegawd Cefnfor y Cenhedloedd Unedig. Dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig, wrth draddodi’r araith agoriadol: “Mae adfer cynefinoedd corsydd hallt a morwellt yng Nghymru yn allweddol ar gyfer mynd i’r afael â’r argyfyngau hinsawdd a byd natur yr ydym yn eu hwynebu. Rwy’n hynod falch o’r hyn mae Rhwydwaith Morwellt Cymru yn ei gyflawni a datblygiad Cynllun Gweithredu Morwellt Cenedlaethol Cymru.” “Bydd dull Prosiect Morwellt o ganolbwyntio ar y gymuned yn darparu glasbrint ar gyfer gweithredu cenedlaethol, gan gefnogi swyddi gwyrdd cynaliadwy ledled Cymru nawr ac yn y dyfodol.” Roedd cael Symposiwm Morwellt y DU yng Nghymru yn addas wedi i Lywodraeth Cymru gymeradwyo’r Cynllun Gweithredu Morwellt Cenedlaethol i Gymru yn gynharach eleni, yr ymrwymiad cyntaf o’i fath yn fyd-eang. Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad yn Techniquest ym Mae Caerdydd, a daeth dros 200 o gynrychiolwyr i arwain trafodaethau a gweithredoedd i amddiffyn ac adfer morwellt y DU. Dywedodd Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, Prif Weithredwr Prosiect Morwellt a Chadeirydd cyntaf Rhwydwaith Morwellt Cymru: “Rwyf wrth fy modd o fod wedi dod ag ail Symposiwm Morwellt y DU i Gymru. Mae’r digwyddiad wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol – mae wedi cryfhau’r cydweithio rhwng gwyddonwyr, ymarferwyr, a gwneuthurwyr polisi o bob rhan o’r DU, ac wedi amlygu bod y Cynllun Gweithredu Morwellt Cenedlaethol i Gymru bellach yn darparu glasbrint i wledydd eraill. Ochr yn ochr â chynghrair ryngwladol o ymarferwyr morwellt, rydym yn arwain y ffordd, yn symud o weledigaeth i weithredu, gan adfer dolydd, llywio polisi ac amddiffyn ein treftadaeth forol.” Mae’r cydweithredu a’r cydweithio a fabwysiadwyd gan Symposiwm Morwellt y DU yn allweddol i fynd i’r afael â’r heriau sy’n wynebu morwellt y DU ar hyn o bryd. Noddwyd y Symposiwm gan Llywodraeth Cymru, Ystâd y Goron, Grid Cenedlaethol y DU,, ACT Sustainably, Rhwydweithiau Trydan yr Alban a’r De, Blue Robotics, a Frontiers. Cefnogwyr Y digwyddiad oedd y cyntaf yng nghyfres Symposiwm Morwellt y DU (UKSS) i dderbyn cymeradwyaeth fel Gweithgaredd Degawd Cefnfor swyddogol fel rhan o Ddegawd Cefnfor y Cenhedloedd Unedig.
The UK Seagrass Symposium 2025 took place in Cardiff last week, bringing together scientists, conservation professionals, practitioners, and community groups from across the UK. Hosted by Project Seagrass, the event was the first in the UK Seagrass Symposium (UKSS) series to receive endorsement as an official Ocean Decade Activity as part of the United Nations Ocean Decade. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies delivered the opening address, and said: “Restoring seagrass and saltmarsh habitats in Wales is crucial for tackling the climate and nature emergencies we face. I am incredibly proud of what Seagrass Network Cymru is achieving and the development of Wales’ own National Seagrass Action Plan. “Project Seagrass’s community-focused approach will provide a blueprint for national implementation, supporting sustainable green jobs across Wales now and into the future.” A UK Seagrass Symposium in Wales is fitting following the Welsh Government’s endorsement of the National Seagrass Action Plan for Wales earlier this year, the first commitment of its kind globally. The event took place at Techniquest in Cardiff Bay and saw over 200 delegates come together to drive forward discussions and actions to protect and restore UK seagrass. Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, CEO of Project Seagrass and inaugural Chair of Seagrass Network Cymru said: “I am delighted to have brought the second UK Seagrass Symposium to Wales. The event has been a tremendous success — it has strengthened the collaborations between scientists, practitioners and policymakers across the UK, and highlighted that the National Seagrass Action Plan for Wales is now providing a blueprint for other nations. Alongside an international alliance of seagrass practitioners, we are leading the way, moving from vision to action, restoring meadows, shaping policy and protecting our marine heritage.” The collective action and collaboration fostered by the UK Seagrass Symposium is key to addressing the challenges that UK seagrass currently faces. The Symposium was sponsored by Welsh Government, The Crown Estate, National Grid UK, ACT Sustainably, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Blue Robotics, and Frontiers. Thank you to our UK Seagrass Symposium Sponsors The event was the first in the UK Seagrass Symposium (UKSS) series to receive endorsement as an official Ocean Decade Activity as part of the United Nations Ocean Decade.
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
Between the 11th and 13th November 2025, scientists, conservation professionals, practitioners, and community groups from across the UK will converge in Cardiff for the 2025 UK Seagrass Symposium (UKSS). Hosted by Project Seagrass, the event will build upon the success of the inaugural UKSS (hosted by Ocean Conservation Trust and Cornwall Wildlife Trust in 2023) with the Cardiff conference anticipated to welcome over 200 delegates to the Welsh Capital. Attendees will participate in a programme of inspiring talks from keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops led by some of the world’s leading seagrass scientists. The event, which will take place at Techniquest in Cardiff Bay and is sponsored by the Crown Estate, will drive forward discussions and actions to protect and restore UK seagrass, alongside providing an invaluable networking opportunity for attendees to share knowledge on seagrass science, policy, and management. Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, CEO of Project Seagrass and Chair of Seagrass Network Cymru said: “I’m delighted to be bringing this conference to Wales in 2025. This is an opportunity to connect science, policy, and action by bringing together those working on seagrass from across the UK. Interest in seagrass has grown substantially in the past few years and this is a forum to share and enhance our collective knowledge to advance towards a healthy and connected UK seascape.” Seagrass meadows play a critical role in keeping our oceans healthy and stocked with food and are important allies to tackle the global climate and biodiversity crises. Yet the current condition of seagrass in the UK is generally poor due to multiple pressures, including poor water quality, and direct physical damage from moorings and anchors with extensive loss having occurred since the 19th Century. The collective action and collaboration fostered by the UK Seagrass Symposium is key to addressing the challenges that UK seagrass currently faces. Dr Benjamin Jones, 2022-24 President of World Seagrass Association said: “Given the increasing challenges that seagrass meadows globally face, I see this UK Seagrass Symposium as a crucial opportunity to build a diverse, equitable, and collaborative UK seagrass community to tackle seagrass decline. We need to both learn from others and share our successes and failures; we simply do not have the time to wait, we need to collaborate, and we need to collaborate now.” A UK Seagrass Symposium hosted in the Welsh Capital is fitting following the Welsh Government’s endorsement of a National Seagrass Action Plan for Wales earlier this year. The Plan presents a blueprint for action over the next five years 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. Registration for the UK Seagrass Symposium will open later this month. To discuss sponsorship opportunities contact: ben@projectseagrass.org.
Seagrass meadows and their elusive inhabitants, dugongs, are under threat across Asia. To tackle this, conservation experts, policymakers, and researchers from across the region gathered in Bangkok in February 2025 for the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation. The goal? To find real, actionable solutions to the challenges facing these vital ecosystems. At this event, we were invited to share our learnings from over two decades of hands-on experience across Asia, where research outputs from our executives, Leanne, Ben and Richard, have been pivotal in shaping understanding of the crucial role seagrass meadows play in supporting livelihoods and food-security – research that embraces our social-ecological systems approach to seagrass conservation. Our CEO, Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth, whose own seagrass journey began in this region more than two decades ago was delighted to attend the event, reconnect, and talk about the Global Goals, specific global challenges for seagrass, and need for robust data achieved through broader scientific approached and transdisciplinary collaboration. Leanne presenting at the First Asian Regional Dialogue on Seagrass and Dugong Conservation Bridging the Gaps in Policy While many Asian countries already have laws to protect seagrass and dugongs, enforcement remains a challenge due to budget constraints and fragmented conservation efforts. Some countries manage seagrass and dugongs separately, which weakens conservation impact. Experts at the dialogue called for stronger, integrated policies, better coordination between government agencies, and increased scientific input to guide decision-making. Better Mapping & Data Sharing Accurate data is key to protecting seagrass meadows, but many countries struggle with inconsistent monitoring and difficulty accessing research. Political and security concerns can also make cross-border data sharing complicated. At the dialogue, Leanne emphasised the importance of community-driven data collection, improved mapping techniques, and innovative technology to track seagrass health and dugong populations. In her presentation, she highlighted how citizen science (building on our SeagrassSpotter programme) can drive more effective conservation. Participants also discussed the need for regional cooperation in data sharing to bridge knowledge gaps – efforts we’re leading by making SeagrassSpotter data accessible to all. A Coordinated Approach to Conservation From government agencies to NGOs and private companies, many groups are working to protect seagrass and dugongs – but often in isolation. The dialogue highlighted the need for better knowledge-sharing, and we hope to lead that charge. Our own strategic objectives align closely with the key outcomes of the dialogue. The message from the event was clear: protecting dugongs and seagrass in Asia requires stronger collaboration and smarter policies. By building on our own expertise and strengthening regional partnerships, we will secure a future where these vital ecosystems, and the communities that rely on them, continue to thrive. Presentations and a summary of the event from the organisers can be found here. Global expects converge to address gaps for seagrass and dugong conservation in Asia.
Between the 8th and 10th April 2025, Project Seagrass will join other scientists and conservation professionals in Arcachon, France for the 2nd European Seagrass Restoration Workshop. Hosted by The Seagrass Consortium the workshop follows on from the inaugural workshop held in Portinho da Arrábida, Portugal in 2010. The 2025 workshop is centered around coalition and shared learning with the theme “Towards a European Seagrass Restoration Alliance” which centres the conference’s aim to mark the start of a new era for transnational collaboration for seagrass restoration in Europe. Members of the Project Seagrass team will be involved in the following: Workshops Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Richard Unsworth and Dr Per-Olav Moksnes (Göteborgs universitet) will be co-hosting a workshop on Zostera marina seagrass restoration with a focus on disseminating operational techniques whilst also exploring potential project synergies and the opportunity for future collaboration. Nursery Lead, Emily Yates will be co-hosting a workshop with Dr Laura Govers (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) on the role of Seagrass Nurseries in supporting the scaling of seagrass restoration efforts in the field, but critically for developing the scientific knowledge that underpins restoration success. Talks In her talk, Project Seagrass CEO, Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth will talk about the planetary role of seagrass conservation noting that seagrass is part of the highly complex jigsaw of planetary recovery. Everywhere there is seagrass, there are people that depend on it for food, subsistence, or cultural fulfilment. It delivers planetary and human wellbeing across its near global range. Seagrass has previously been dismissed as the ugly duckling of the marine world. But there is beauty in a plant that sustains millions of people across the globe. In fact, this marine plant contributes to most of the targets within 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals but it’s only as a connected, collaborative society that will we be able to rise to the global challenges facing seagrass. Dr Richard Unsworth will deliver a talk on current and future perspectives of Zostera marina seagrass restoration. Senior Scientific Officer, Anouska Mendzil will deliver a talk on the UK’s largest in-field seagrass (Zostera marina) scientific methodology planting trials, the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: Solent programme. Funded by WWF, the programme aims to identify and test the most successful and efficient planting methodology to enable increased seed germination and survival for active restoration projects at scale. The talk will discuss the methodologies utilized as part of the trials as well as emphasizing the importance of funding for monitoring being accounted for within projects long after the active restoration stage has been completed. Posters Alongside the workshops and talks, members of the team will be presenting posters at the conference. Seagrass Restoration Research Assistant, Bridget Patterson will present a poster on the unpredictable challenges currently faced by temperate intertidal seagrass restoration projects, sharing lessons learned from Project Seagrass’ involvement in the Seagrass Ocean Rescue: North Wales programme. Bridget will discuss the reasons that intertidal Zostera marina planting efforts on the Llŷn Peninsula were unsuccessful as well as sharing the most effective planting method in this area. Bridget will present a second poster calling for data for a new seagrass restoration meta-analysis. Building on our own Project Seagrass restoration data, we will be calling for other data from any seagrass restoration attempt. The aim is to build a meta-analysis that includes satellite-derived abiotic data to compare methodology and environment on a global scale. Bridget will discuss the findings of our meta analysis and talk to other restoration bodies about adding their data. Senior Science Officer, Dr Hannah Green’s poster will present the findings from experiments carried out at the Project Seagrass Seagrass Nursery to investigate the impact that timing, planting method, and sediment type used for Zostera marina seagrass restoration had on germination rate and seedling establishment under semi-controlled conditions in a nursery setup. Science Officer, Emma Fox will present a poster on Nanozostera noltii transplants. Higher success rates are needed to scale up seagrass restoration to ensure the level of ocean recovery required. An increasingly used method across the Northwest Atlantic has been the transplantation of Nanozostera noltii cores, resulting in varied success. This method relies upon the use of natural beds as donor material. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the impact of core removal on the natural beds in deciding whether this is a suitable restoration method when scaling up. To increase knowledge and develop best practices, recovery of the donor meadow was looked at across sites in Essex, South Wales and Scotland. Emma’s poster will present data from these sites, examining the length of time for the natural bed to recover and the variation in recovery rates. This research has implications for beds selected as donor material and, subsequently, has led to the development of trials using Nanozostera noltii from the Project Seagrass Nursery. Explore the full ESRW programme via the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance website.
It’s already been one month since the 12th International Seagrass Biology Workshop began at Nant Gwrtheyrn in Wales. This time last month the world’s foremost seagrass scientists were descending on the Llŷn Peninsula and the Project Seagrass team were in the midst of the final preparations for hosting the largest International Seagrass Biology Workshop in recent times. Immediately prior to the conference The World Seagrass Association released a statement that had been endorsed by 122 scientists across 28 countries. The statement described how the international seagrass research and conservation community together with the World Seagrass Association called on all governments and global institutions to take local, regional and global action to ensure the future survival of seagrass meadows. This statement was instrumental in generating media coverage, and the conference was picked up by both local and national media outlets including the BBC. The conference itself kicked off with a healthy dose of #OceanOptimism which set a positive tone for the rest of the week. We learnt how seagrass science is reaching new audiences and how citizen science projects and novel educational tools are bringing seagrass meadows to the general public like never before. “Securing a future for seagrass” – Ocean Optimism was a central theme running thoughout the conference. The presentations and workshops that formed the bulk of the conference program provided numerous occasions to discuss the current key themes in contemporary seagrass science. These themes range from from ‘Blue Carbon’ and ‘Ecosystem Services’ to ‘Genetics’, ‘Physiology’ and ‘Resilience’. Critically, the conference also afforded the opportunity to discuss local management solutions to recreational boating impacts. Here the conference provided an opportunity to harness global seagrass knowledge and expertise in attempting to address a local concern. Despite the travel and costs involved, conferences really are one of the best ways of facilitating the sharing of expert knowledge amongst scientists and other concerned stakeholders. Workshops enabled delegates to draw on scientific and management expertise from across the world. Mid-way through the conference we had organised a ‘fieldwork’ afternoon where delegates would have free time available. This was either an chance for them to take time and space for themselves or to take the opportunity to visit some of the local sights and attractions. The field trips organised by the commitee included a historical trip to Caernarfon Castle, a local guided walk around Nant Gwrtheyrn and what turned out to be an extremely popular Porthdinllaen nature walk and seagrass meadow visit. Never before has our local meadow received so much attention nor have we had so much valuable input as to the state of the Porthdinllaen meadow – so thank you all for that! The seagrass meadow at Porthdinllaen has never received so much attention! After local field trips, one of the favourite elements of any conference I have attended has to be the Poster Session(s). This is an opporunity for scientists to stand by a poster of the research they have done and use it as a tool to communicate their work to other scientists and managers. I enjoy these sessions primarily because you can spend as much time as you want with the researchers and really get to understand the context and methods behind the research being conducted. Personally, I thought the quality of posters presented at ISBW12 were some of the highest I have seen at any conference anywhere and I’m sure we were all impressed with the contributions from our student (and pre-student!) researchers. So well done #TeamSeagrass! So many of the posters were truly excellent! Including this poster from Theodora and Helen Horangic. As the conference week drew to a close the Conference Dinner provided a great opportunity for colleagues to relax and celebrate what had been a fantastic week of seagrass science. It was also the opportunity to inform everyone that the next conference, the 13th International Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW13), which will be in Singapore in 2018. Dr Siti Maryam Yaakub SJ was able to share with us that the location of ISBW13 will be in Singapore in 2018. As the sun set on the final night of ISBW12 I felt a strong sense that this conference was surely just a springboard to the greater recognition of seagrass meadows globally. It’s great to see so many scientists sharing their stories in the media and championing the seagrass cause in their local area. One month on it’s up to us to make sure that the “Seagrass Surge” of ISBW12 was not just a flash in the pan, but the start of a genuine global movement to put seagrass meadows alongside other marine ecosystems at the centre of marine discussion. As the sun set on ISBW12 I believe the sun is only really beginning to rise on seagrass science as a whole. A big thank you to everyone who participated in ISBW12. It was a genuine pleasure to host the seagrass community in Wales and we are very much looking forward to seeing you all again in 2 years time… Until then! Keep up the good work! #TeamSeagrass
First off, the stereotype of a conference in my head is hushed voices, fancy clothes and everything deadly serious, but throw into the mix that it’s a conference based around seagrass and I was completely at a loss as to what to expect. Having packed for all possibilities (would the seagrass team transform into a posh looking bunch? Or would the usual jeans and an old tee be acceptable?) we headed up to Nant Gwrtheyrn in North Wales. The Nant is a gorgeous former quarrying village looking out past dramatic cliffs to the ocean with a seagrass bed just around the corner- I was definitely spoilt with the location of my first conference, it doesn’t get much better than having only a five-minute walk to the beach to process the constant buzz of activity. It’s probably not the normal conference experience that one of the first things I learnt was that if you sneak off last minute to pretend to be in The Lord of the Rings exploring the cliffs, then put on things that can get muddy- twice I went down, but proudly caught myself before my one pair of semi smart trousers changed colour! The path from Nant Gwrtheyrn conference centre down to the beach. To kick the week off was a plenary by Professor Carlos Duarte (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) talking optimistically about seagrass meadows and popular culture getting everyone laughing – an easy start; maybe conferences weren’t so big and scary! It did leave one question on a conference newbies mind though, the word ‘plenary’ was not yet in my vocabulary – so any students heading to your first conference, everyone attending the conference goes to these, in other words if you talk at one then you deserve respect, you’re a big name in your field! Professor Carlos Duarte ‘Securing a Future for Seagrass’ in the weeks first plenary. So next up was my first workshop. Again the apprehension was definitely there – I’m an undergrad, what could I have to offer to all these academics? Well most of the time not a lot, but it was a perfect opportunity to question and learn, and once in a blue moon I might stumble across an idea that the top dogs had over looked. As intimidating as a professor with a tonne of published papers is, they tended to be welcoming to all ideas and helpful to gently point out that they tried that method 20 years before and it may not be the strongest approach. Timing and Triggers for seagrass flowering workshop with Nordlund LM, Creed J, Jackson E, & Nakaoka M. Despite some fascinating talks and some hot debates at workshops (seagrass scientists can get heated!) that’s not where I personally learnt the most. Sitting with new people each meal time and relaxing with them after a long day was when I found the most inspiration; it’s the time when people get excited about their work and me being fresh faced to the seagrass world meant they could just enjoy telling their seagrass stories without worrying about nitty gritty details. In those relaxed situations people were happy to chat and answer my drilling of questions. The enthusiasm of Dimosthenis Traganos, a Greek pHD student studying in Berlin, who’s eyes lit up as he was telling me about using satellite imaging to map the seagrass of his home lands and the pride as Oliver Thomas from Heriott-Watt University described the numerous different studies he’d done to complete his masters; these were the times when I found as a conference first-timer that I learnt the most. Dancing to ‘y Moniars.’ a local Welsh band. Helping the organising team I felt as though I was sat nicely on the edge of the eye of a storm- able to see the manic behind the scenes madness, but also able to join the peace of the attendees. It was a week of huge learning curves in all aspects- sharing with two Indonesian ladies meant early starts and spicy tea, that whatever culture you come from there is no end to small talk about the welsh autumnal weather and hopefully I’ve picked up one or two new seagrass facts along the way too. A huge thank you to Project Seagrass for all their hard work in helping to host the twelfth successful International Seagrass Biology Workshop and for giving me the opportunity to tag along and get involved. It was definitely a positive week for securing a future for seagrass. And in case you were wondering, the seagrass team does not magically transform into a group wearing tuxedos and ball dresses with pinkies always out when they enter a conference room, they’re still as chilled as ever.
