February 3, 2022 โ Whoever said thereโs nothing more boring than watching grass grow wasnโt thinking about seagrass. Often confused with seaweeds and rarely receiving the attention they deserve, thereโs nothing boring about seagrasses. In fact, they are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world.
Next time you are swimming and enjoying the seaโs cool embrace look down and try to spot the slender blades of seagrass, a remarkable marine plant that plays a vital role in the coastal environment but is now under threat.
Forming dense underwater meadows, seagrasses are vital to maintain fisheries, absorb carbon and protect coastlines from erosionโbut their future is threatened by climate change, pollution and other impacts of human activities, scientists say.
The plants grow in shallow coastal waters in all regions except the Antarctic. They act as nurseries or feeding grounds for hundreds of species of seafood, including sea bream, octopus, cuttlefish and Alaska pollockโone of the most fished species in the world.