A new £2.4m project has been launched in the north of Scotland to restore seagrass in the seas. This initiative aims to plant 14 hectares (34.6 acres) of seagrass over the next three years. Seagrass is hailed as a vital plant by conservationists as it provides food and shelter for a myriad of species. However, the global seagrass population has been declining since the 1930s.
The University College London’s research revealed that 92% of Britain’s seagrass has vanished over the last century. As a result, many areas that were once teeming with seagrass are now barren seabeds. To combat this decline, the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have joined forces to kickstart this significant restoration project.
Several organizations from Shetland to the Kintyre peninsula have been awarded grants to partake in this vital restoration effort. Seagrass is home to a wide array of species and serves as a food source for many marine creatures. Additionally, it plays a pivotal role in purifying water, slowing down waves to prevent coastal flooding, and absorbing CO2 to combat climate change. The partnership emphasizes the importance of Scottish seas as a unique habitat for marine life, boasting a rich diversity of over 8,000 species along the country’s 18,000km (11,185 miles) of coastline
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