Seagrass meadows could well be the most under-appreciated of marine habitats. 

The only flowering plant fully adapted to life at sea, seagrasses are found in coastal waters where they form dense underwater meadows connected by mats of root-like rhizomes.

 It is these meadows which provide a globally important nature-based solution in our fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. 

The Tor Bay Marine Conservation Zone was established to protect seagrass meadows and other important habitats. It is here that Wild Planet Trust has been working with partners to conserve seagrass since 2018. 

Coordinated from the Trust’s offices at Paignton Zoo, the ‘Save Our Seagrass’ project aims to recover our local seagrass meadows through monitoring, protection, and community engagement. Monitoring from survey dives and drone imagery helps map the extent of seagrass meadows and track their health over time. 

Additionally, Advanced Mooring Systems have been installed to protect the seagrass from anchoring at Fishcombe Cove, Brixham. Wild Planet Trust has been involved in many events aimed at raising awareness amongst tourists and local communities, fostering support and respect for Torbay’s precious marine environment.

It’s believed seagrass absorbs and stores carbon up to 35 times faster than the same area of rainforest. Seagrass meadows also help to slow coastal erosion, oxygenate the water, trap harmful bacteria, and act as a nursery for fish and other species. 

Unfortunately, there are many threats to this critical habitat, including damage from anchors and propellers, poor water quality, and wasting disease linked to warmer temperatures. 

For more information visit https://wildplanettrust.org.uk/our-projects/at-home/seagrass.