Seagrass Awareness Month

March is seagrass awareness month and an important opportunity to highlight the amazing impact of seagrass on the planet, and what we as boaters and water lovers need to do to protect it. 

About seagrass

Seagrass is currently critically endangered, with seagrass habitats being some of the most rapidly declining on earth. Given that seagrass stores an estimated 10-15% of global ocean carbon, the protection of seagrass habitats is an important element in the battle against climate change. What's more, seagrass has been known to store up to twice as much carbon per hectare as terrestrial forests, highlighting the importance of looking beneath the waves when it comes to protecting our planet. Seagrass also provides a habitat for many protected underwater species, offering a safe breeding and feeding ground for seahorses and cuttlefish amongst others. 

What do boaters need to be aware of?

Seagrass is fragil and can be easily damaged when anchoring if care isn't being taken. Traditional anchors have been known to scour the seabed causing damage to existing seagrass habitats and reducing the future chance of seagrass regrowth. As a boater it is important to be aware of where you are dropping your anchor, making the most of sustainable mooring options wherever they are available. If you'd like to learn more about sistainable anchoring the Green Blue have some upcoming webinars on the topic available here, or you can check out their green guide to anchoring and mooring here. 

What are boatfolk doing?

We know that our industry has a negative impact on seagrass and we're passionate about working with experts to both educate our community and implement real changes. Last year we worked in partner ship with The Seahorse Trust to secure approval and install 10 eco-moorings in Studland Bay, an area that became a designated Marine Conservation Zone in 2018 due to its rare seagrass meadows. You can read the full story here.

Want to learn more about seagrass?

Check out some of our Folk Tales podcasts for information on ongoing seagrass research, projects and what you can do to help.