Big boost for Torbay's seagrass conservation work

Torbay's seagrass meadows are being given a profile lift.

The Ocean Conservation Trust and Wild Planet Trust have been collaborating on the Blue Meadows initiative to protect and restore the Bay's seagrass meadows for over a decade.

This month, they celebrate the installation of six new permanent informative signs around the coast of Tor Bay.

The signage has been installed at Hope Cove, Beacon Cove, Torre Abbey Sands, Elberry Cove, Fishcombe Cove, and Breakwater Beach. The signage will help to educate and inform passersby of the important seagrass restoration work taking place over and under the ocean.

The Blue Meadows Programme, which is run by the OCT, is a holistic approach to seagrass protection, regeneration and restoration at scale. The goal is to protect the seagrass meadows that already exist, and over the longer term, restore the seagrass meadows that have been lost. 

Mark Parry, Head of Ocean Habitat Restoration, Ocean Conservation Trust, said: ‘Working with the team at Wild Planet Trust has been integral to the success of Blue Meadows restoration and protection work across Torbay. Our combined commitment to decreasing harmful anchoring across sites, famous for both domestic and commercial use, has seen a marked decrease in damage to the meadows, and significant increase in local awareness and positive behaviour change among water users."

Seagrass is one of the most valuable and biodiverse habitats on the planet, being one of the few that provides multiple benefits to the environment. However, traditional anchoring and mooring systems cause damage to these delicate habitats as the chains drag along the seabed, disturbing and damaging the plants. 

Together, OCT and WPT have identified local seagrass meadows in Tor Bay that have been negatively impacted by human activity and installed Blue Meadows Marker Buoys and Advanced Mooring Systems to help protect the valuable seagrass meadows underneath.

The bright yellow marker buoys define areas of seagrass for protection and identify them above water to clearly define the area to water users.

The AMS minimises this disruption to delicate seabed ecosystems, such as seagrass and maerl beds. These eco-moorings use a series of mid-water floats to elevate the chain from the seabed, allowing seagrass to grow, undisturbed. 

The hope is that the installation of these protection tools, while working with local communities on the ground, will not only actively see these beds protected and restored, but raise awareness of the importance of seagrass and what people can do to look after it.

Dr Andy Bowkett, Project & Partnerships Manager, Wild Planet Trust, said: ‘All of Wild Planet Trust’s zoos and nature reserves are located near the coast, so it makes perfect sense to partner with Ocean Conservation Trust. WPT has the local knowledge and community connections, whereas OCT brings their technical expertise and access to wider seagrass conservation partnerships through Blue Meadows. The new signage reflects both our brands, but more importantly, furthers our joint mission to recover Tor Bay’s seagrass meadows for the benefit of climate, biodiversity and everyone who enjoys the marine environment."

Since the 1930’s, up to 90 percent of the UK’s seagrass beds have been lost, largely through physical disturbance, pollution and disease. When seagrass meadows are damaged or degraded, they capture less carbon and release significant amounts of greenhouse gases that might have been stored for thousands of years.

Seagrass is one of the most valuable and biodiverse habitats on the planet and is one of the few that provides multiple benefits to the environment.

Seagrass meadows allow biodiversity to flourish. A single hectare can support 80,000 fish and 100 million small invertebrates. The underwater meadows are also a home for rare and endangered species, such as seahorses and stalked jellyfish. They provide nurseries for commercially important fish species, ensuring food security and supporting local economies. Healthier meadows create healthier fish stocks, which in turn creates a better economy for local fishing communities.

These meadows also absorb and store vast amounts of carbon. They absorb carbon up to 35 times more efficiently than tropical rainforests, and despite only covering 0.2 percent of the seabed, they store 10 percent of the Ocean’s carbon. Seagrass meadows are also very efficient nitrogen strippers, removing chemical elements that cause harmful algal blooms, which can negatively impact human and animal health.

Where seagrass meadows are present and healthy, they can prevent the erosion of our coasts, by anchoring sediments on the seabed.

Many people value the natural beauty and tranquillity of these ecosystems. Local communities can benefit from sustainable seagrass management practices, such as seagrass conservation, responsible fishing, and eco-tourism.