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Hundreds of seagrass shoots found in Cornwall estuary
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Over 430 seagrass shoots have been discovered in the Fowey Estuary, signaling promising progress in restoring this vital marine habitat in Cornwall.
- The growth was recorded across 50 seabed patches during summer surveys by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, following initial concerns when only six seedlings were observed by April.
- The restoration project, part of Seeding Change Together, involves collecting seeds from a donor meadow and planting them in estuaries, aiming to revive seagrass meadows that have declined by up to 92% in mainland Britain.
- Seagrass plays a crucial ecological role by providing habitat for marine life, improving water quality, sequestering carbon at rates much higher than tropical rainforests, and reducing coastal erosion.
- Despite some setbacks, such as algal growth damaging seedlings in the Helford Estuary, the project continues with plans for additional seed planting and monitoring through 2027.
