Wales to lead UK's biggest ever seagrass restoration

  • Wales
Credit: PA Images

The UK's biggest ever seagrass restoration project is to take place in Wales to help restore marine habitat and tackle climate change and ecological emergencies.

Conservationists will plant one million seeds of seagrass, which they say captures carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.

Seeds of the “wonder plant” have been gathered from existing meadows in shallow, sheltered areas along the UK coasts, including Porthdinllaen in the Llŷn Peninsula.

Volunteers led by Swansea University have been snorkelling, diving and wading in to get them.

Pollution is one factor in the "huge decline" in seagrass. Credit: PA Images

The decline has been caused by pollution, runoff from the land, coastal development and damage from boat propellers and chain moorings.

Sky Ocean Rescue, Swansea University and WWF want the UK government to use the model the project is creating across the rest of the British Isles.

The conservationists says local communities can help to manage the "vital areas." Credit: PA Images

How important is seagrass?

  • It accounts for 10 per cent of annual worldwide ocean carbon storage

  • 10,000 square metres of seagrass can support 80,000 fish and 100 million invertebrates

  • It helps clean the ocean by absorbing polluting nutrients produced on land by humans

  • By absorbing wave energy it helps protect our coasts from erosion.