Context:
Scuba divers in Northern Germany are extracting seagrass shoots to replant in barren areas, aiming to combat climate change and revive these ocean carbon sinks.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Seagrass Meadows
- Concern: Decline of Seagrass Habitats
- Seagrasses in India
- Restoration Efforts
About Seagrass Meadows:
- Seagrass meadows are underwater carpets formed by flowering plants thriving in shallow coastal waters.
- They require sunlight for photosynthesis and grow in sandy or muddy substrates.
Significance of Seagrass Meadows:
- Carbon Sequestration: Despite covering only 0.1% of the ocean floor, they are efficient carbon sinks, storing up to 18% of oceanic carbon, aiding in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating global warming.
- Water Quality Improvement: Seagrass meadows filter pollutants, trap sediments, and prevent erosion, leading to improved water clarity and quality, benefiting marine life and human activities like fishing, tourism, and recreation.
- Biodiversity and Habitat: These ecosystems support a wide range of marine animals, including fish, turtles, dugongs, crabs, and seahorses, serving as essential habitats and food sources.
- Coastal Protection: Acting as natural barriers, they protect coastlines from erosion caused by waves and tidal currents.
Concern: Decline of Seagrass Habitats
Report Findings:
- The “Out of the Blue: The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to People” report by UNEP highlights that approximately 7% of seagrass habitat is lost globally each year.
- Over the past century, nearly 30% of seagrass area worldwide has been lost, indicating a significant decline.
Causes of Seagrass Loss:
- Construction Impact: The development of ports and marinas can lead to the destruction of seagrass habitats or reduce the amount of sunlight available to them, hindering their growth.
- Runoff Effects: Nutrient, chemical, and sediment runoff from agriculture, industry, and urban areas can cause eutrophication, algal blooms, and turbidity, suffocating or shading seagrass plants.
- Climate Stressors: Rising sea temperatures, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events can stress or damage seagrass, altering their distribution and growth patterns.
Seagrasses in India:
- In India, significant seagrass beds are found along the coastlines of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay regions on the east coast.
- The west coast hosts seagrass beds in the Gulf of Kachchh region.
- In addition, seagrass meadows can be found in the lagoons of islands in Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
Restoration Efforts:
- Seagrass restoration initiatives have been undertaken in various regions globally to conserve and revive seagrass habitats.
- Notable efforts include restoration projects in the Baltic Sea (Germany), Chesapeake Bay (USA), and the Gulf of Mannar (India).
-Source: The Hindu
