The Solent Seagrass project aims to assess the extent and health of Seagrass meadows with the help of both scuba divers and members of the general public.
1. What are Seagrasses?
2. Why are they so important?
3. What is the Solent Seagrass project?
4. Seagrass Reporting Form
5. Seagrass podcast
6. Funders
7. Get in touch with us…
1. What are Seagrasses?
Seagrasses play an important role within our marine ecosystem. They are the only group of flowering plants in the world able to live fully immersed in sea water. These nationally scare group of plants favour shallow coastal areas and are found on sandy and muddy seabeds. Three types of Seagrass, often known as eelgrass, can be found around the coasts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Dwarf eelgrass ( Zostera noltii ) and Narrow leaved eelgrass ( Zostera angustifolia ) can be found close to the shore, where they are often uncovered during a low tide. Common eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) which has much longer and broader leaves than the other two species, lives fully submerged at depths of up to five meters.
2. Why are they so important?
Seagrass meadows have long been recognised as an important habitat for marine wildlife. Underwater, the dense cover of leaves acts as a nursery for juvenile fish and crustaceans, like shrimps and crabs, and provide shelter from strong currents and predators. Seahorses favour these areas and anchor to the plants using their tails. These exclusive creatures, although rare, are believed to live in meadows around the Isle of Wight.
3. What is the Solent Seagrass project?
The Solent Seagrass Project will conduct surveys of meadows using scuba divers and underwater video in partnership with the University of Southampton’s National Oceangraphic Centre. We will be measuring bed size, assessing their health and recording the wildlife living there, including seahorses. Data from published studies, past surveys, casual records and other sources of information will also be gathered.Both of these research activities will allow us to compile an inventory of seagrass meadows for the two counties, helping our understanding and enabling us to better protect them.
The Solent Seagrass Project offers a chance for you to get involved in the conservation of Seagrass habitats within your area. You can take part in collecting important information about the extent, health and biodiversity of Seagrass beds, helping to preserve and protect them for years to come. We would like anyone who finds seagrass, either when walking our shores or sailing our waters to get in contact with the Trust and report their finds. This could help to identify previously unrecorded seagrass meadows and allow us to champion the conservation of these wonderful but often under-appreciated habitats.
4. Seagrass Reporting Form
Please click for the online contact form or the Seagrass Reporting PDF or contact the Marine Officer (see below).
5. Seagrass podcast
Please click to hear the Seagrass podcast .
6. Funders
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has initiated the Solent Seagrass Project with funding from the SITA Trust and Hampshire County Council, with support from the Environment Agency.
7. Get in touch with us…
For more information contact our Marine team, tel 01489 774400 email feedback@hwt.org.uk
