Tuesday May 30, 2023
Nature World News —
Seagrass meadows are underwater grasslands that grow in shallow coastal waters around the world.
They are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems on earth, hosting a rich variety of marine life, such as fish, turtles, dugongs and seahorses.
They also provide important ecosystem services that benefit people and nature, such as filtering water, stabilizing sediments, storing carbon and supporting fisheries.
However, seagrass meadows are facing rapid decline due to human activities and environmental changes that threaten their existence and function.
A global assessment of 215 studies found that seagrass meadows have been disappearing at a rate of 110 km2 per year since 1980 and that 29% of the known areal extent has disappeared since seagrass areas were initially recorded in 1879.
The rates of decline have accelerated from 0.9% per year before 1940 to 7% per year since 1990.