Seagrass meadows are critical to all life on our planet
Seagrass meadows are critical to the survival of every living thing on Earth
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that thrive in shallow waters across the globe, from tropical regions to the Arctic Circle. They form dense underwater meadows that are vital to both ecosystems and human communities. They support food security through fish production, enhance water quality by acting as natural filters, protect coastlines from erosion, storms, and flooding, and play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage.
Despite their importance, seagrass meadows are threatened. Since 1880, ~20% of global seagrass meadows have been lost. Recent estimates reveal persistent declines of 1%–2% per year. Unfortunately, seagrasses remain one of the least protected coastal ecosystems, facing threats from coastal development, nutrient runoff, and climate change.
The message is urgent: healthy seagrasses are key to mitigating climate change, adapting to its impacts, building resilience, and providing numerous societal benefits. Immediate action is needed to protect seagrasses by prioritizing ambitious, coordinated efforts in conservation, sustainable management, and restoration.
Communities around the world depend on seagrass meadows for food security and livelihoods. Seagrass meadows provide vital nutrition for close to 3 billion people by supporting healthy fishing grounds. Through these fishing grounds, seagrass helps to provide 50% of animal protein to 400 million people in the third world.
Seagrass meadows are an important nursery ground, providing habitat to many juvenile species of fish, including commercially important species fished for food and income. Seagrass fisheries are a vital source of income to many coastal communities. Seagrass fisheries support 20% of the worlds largest fisheries. The loss of seagrass threatens global food security and a stable income source.
The leaves of seagrass can filter pathogens, bacteria, and pollution out of seawater, making our oceans a cleaner and safer environment to enjoy.
The roots of seagrass extend through the sediment creating a network which strengthens the coast helping to reduce coastal erosion. Their leaves also weaken wave energy and storm surges offering protection to coastal communities from storms.
Seagrasses are also an important part of the culture of many island communities. For example, in the Solomon Islands, fishers twist seagrass leaves together and shout to seagrass spirits for good luck.
Communities around the world depend on seagrass meadows for food security and livelihoods. Seagrass meadows provide vital nutrition for close to 3 billion people by supporting healthy fishing grounds. Through these fishing grounds, seagrass helps to provide 50% of animal protein to 400 million people.
Seagrass meadows are an important nursery ground, providing habitat to many juvenile species of fish, including commercially important species fished for food and income. Seagrass fisheries are a vital source of income to many coastal communities. Seagrass fisheries support 20% of the worlds largest fisheries. The loss of seagrass threatens global food security and a stable income source.
The leaves of seagrass can filter pathogens, bacteria, and pollution out of seawater, making our oceans a cleaner and safer environment to enjoy.
The roots of seagrass extend through the sediment creating a network which strengthens the coast helping to reduce coastal erosion. Their leaves also weaken wave energy and storm surges offering protection to coastal communities from storms.
Seagrasses are also an important part of the culture of many island communities. For example, in the Solomon Islands, fishers twist seagrass leaves together and shout to seagrass spirits for good luck.
Seagrass supports or provides habitat for 1000’s of species of fish, invertebrates, birds, reptiles and mammals
Seagrasses form dense meadows providing shelter and habitat to thousands of marine species. They act as nurseries as their leafy underwater canopy they create provides shelter for small invertebrates (like crabs and shrimp and other types of crustaceans), small fish and juveniles of larger fish species.
These vibrant biodiverse meadows also act as feeding grounds for larger predators that utilise the seagrass meadows to hunt for food. Some marine animals, primarily large grazers like manatees, dugongs, green sea turtles and geese eat the seagrass leaves directly, and seagrass forms a major component of their diets. Adult green sea turtles spend most of their time grazing in seagrass meadows and get their name from the colour of their fat which turns green due to all the green seagrass leaves they consume.
Seagrass meadows form part of a larger ‘seascape’ supporting other marine and coastal habitats. Several species of coral reef fishes forage in seagrass meadows during the night and return to the protection of the reefs during the day.
Seagrasses form dense meadows providing shelter and habitat to thousands of marine species. They act as nurseries as their leafy underwater canopy they create provides shelter for small invertebrates (like crabs and shrimp and other types of crustaceans), small fish and juveniles of larger fish species.
These vibrant biodiverse meadows also act as feeding grounds for larger predators that utilise the seagrass meadows to hunt for food. Some marine animals, primarily large grazers like manatees, dugongs, green sea turtles and geese eat the seagrass leaves directly, and seagrass forms a major component of their diets. Adult green sea turtles spend most of their time grazing in seagrass meadows and get their name from the colour of their fat which turns green due to all the green seagrass leaves they consume.
Seagrass meadows form part of a larger ‘seascape’ supporting other marine and coastal habitats. Several species of coral reef fishes forage in seagrass meadows during the night and return to the protection of the reefs during the day.
Seagrass fields in Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar
Seagrasses produce oxygen, clean our coastal water, absorb greenhouse gas emissions, and help to keep our ocean healthy
Seagrass meadows have the potential to sequester and store large quantities of the carbon dissolved in our ocean, often known as ‘blue carbon’. Whilst seagrass occupies only 0.1% of the seafloor, they are responsible for up to 18% of the organic carbon buried in the ocean. Seagrass meadows are able to store carbon in their sediment, essentially ‘locking’ away large amounts of carbon and acting as a carbon store. If undisturbed, this carbon can be stored for millennia. When seagrass meadows are destroyed, the carbon that they have stored for potentially thousands of years is suddenly released back into the ocean and can become a significant carbon source. This is why it is vital to protect our existing seagrass meadows.
Seagrass meadows are interconnected with the other coastal ecosystems: tidal marshes, coral reefs, mangrove forests, kelp forests, and oyster and mussel beds. For example, seagrasses, coral reefs and mangroves work together in a connected seascape. Seagrasses trap and stabilize sediment which in turn provides an area for mangroves to grow on. Coral reefs protect seagrasses from wave action and, in turn, seagrasses protect coral reefs from bacterial run-off from the shore. Healthy seagrass creates a positive ripple effect that cascades throughout the entire ecosystem creating healthy, thriving ocean habitats.
Seagrass meadows have the potential to sequester and store large quantities of the carbon dissolved in our ocean, often known as ‘blue carbon’. Whilst seagrass occupies only 0.1% of the seafloor, they are responsible for up to 18% of the organic carbon buried in the ocean. Seagrass meadows are able to store carbon in their sediment, essentially ‘locking’ away large amounts of carbon and acting as a carbon store. If undisturbed, this carbon can be stored for millennia. When seagrass meadows are destroyed, the carbon that they have stored for potentially thousands of years is suddenly released back into the ocean and can become a significant carbon source. This is why it is vital to protect our existing seagrass meadows.
Seagrass meadows are interconnected with the other coastal ecosystems: tidal marshes, coral reefs, mangrove forests, kelp forests, and oyster and mussel beds. For example, seagrasses, coral reefs and mangroves work together in a connected seascape. Seagrasses trap and stabilize sediment which in turn provides an area for mangroves to grow on. Coral reefs protect seagrasses from wave action and, in turn, seagrasses protect coral reefs from bacterial run-off from the shore. Healthy seagrass creates a positive ripple effect that cascades throughout the entire ecosystem creating healthy, thriving ocean habitats.
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