SCUBAHUB
Seagrass plants have the potential to sequester and store huge amounts of carbon dissolved in our seas
Seagrass meadows revealed by mass survey
INITIAL REPORTS FROM THIS YEAR ’ S Great Seagrass Survey have revealed that volunteers have mapped more than 11 million square metres of seagrass .
Organised over the late May Bank Holiday weekend by Scottish marine charity Seawilding , the initiative saw volunteers , including BSAC members , take to the coast to report on the seagrass beds they found .
Supported by BSAC , data collected during the Great Seagrass Survey will now go towards helping to protect and restore the UK ’ s precious seagrass . Seagrass meadows are vital underwater habitats , producing oxygen and absorbing carbon . They also provide shelter for many ocean species and protect our coastlines .
However , seagrass habitats are under threat and are believed to have declined by 92 % worldwide .
As part of the Great Seagrass Survey 2024 weekend , an additional 127 seagrass beds were located . Now in its second year , organisers hope divers , snorkellers and coastal visitors will continue to report seagrass bed findings all year round .
To support clubs and members to continue with the project throughout the year , BSAC and Seawilding have compiled a range of online resources and online forms for reporting data collected .
For more information on how you can get involved in the Great Seagrass Survey and access the online resources , go to bsac . com / gss /