Read Part 1 here

In part one of her blog, Kelly Saunders, from our Marine Ecosystems team, looked back at the decline of this important habitat in Scotland; today, she looks at the signs of hope for a future with seagrass beds flourishing in Scotland.

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that form lush meadows, both on the seashore and underwater on the seabed. Seagrass beds are ‘savannahs of the sea’, performing a range of important roles including offering shelter and food for marine life; protecting sediments from erosion during storms; and helping mitigate climate change by trapping carbon. Despite the historical losses, the Review of Scottish Seagrass Declines offers some hope by demonstrating that when human pressures are removed or reduced, seagrass populations can recover.

Pockets of recovery have been seen in several areas, with recoveries linked directly to improvements in the local environment:

• Loch Ryan: Following the relocation of the Irish ferry terminal away from Stranraer and the removal of major wastewater discharges between 2011 and 2013, the total recorded area of intertidal seagrass increased by a massive 656% between 2013 and 2022/23.
• Solway Firth: Seagrass beds expanded by 68% between 1993/94 and 2022/23 after mechanical cockle harvesting stopped in the early 1990s, alongside general water quality improvements. Recoveries here highlight the positive impact of marine management.
• Montrose Basin and Firth of Forth: Seagrass beds in the Montrose Basin and the Firth of Forth have both shown signs of recovery after improvements in water quality. In Montrose Basin, seagrass beds have recovered after wastewater treatment was installed in 2002, improving water discharges into the basin. The Firth of Forth is also experiencing a noticeable recovery of intertidal seagrass populations due to improved water quality.

The also review shows why it is important to consider local pressures on seagrass beds. If pressures are removed, seagrass beds can flourish. These findings are essential for communities and organisations involved in the restoration of seagrass beds, and support work funded through mechanisms like the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF). SMEEF is currently undertaking a three-year Seagrass Enhancement Programme, funded by a £2.4m contribution from SSEN Distribution, and aiming to plant 14 hectares of seagrass in suitable locations around Scotland.

Scotland’s remaining seagrass beds are a Priority Marine Feature, meaning that  likely impacts from proposed developments and activities need to be considered. Seagrass beds are also protected within Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network with processes in place to manage impacts of certain activities, such as fish farming and coastal development. In some MPAs, dredging and trawling are already prohibited, protecting seagrass beds from damage. Additional measures to stop dredging and trawling on seagrass beds have been proposed by the Scottish Government both within and outside MPAs.

Seagrass beds play an important role in the health of Scotland’s seas, providing a home for nature and playing a role in coastal protection and climate change mitigation. Protecting what is already there, and restoring areas where seagrass beds used to be, are important steps in safeguarding Scotland’s seas.

Read the Review of Scottish Seagrass Declines on our website.