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Why are seagrass beds vital?
Seagrass beds, also known as "blue meadows", are flowering plants adapted to underwater life. They only cover around 0.2% of the ocean floor, but their ecological role is considerable.
These are underwater flowering plants (such as posidonia in the Mediterranean) that play a key role in coastal ecosystems. Although they cover just 0.2% of the ocean floor, they store up to 10% of oceanic carbon, produce oxygen (10 L/day per m² of seagrass), and harbor immense biodiversity (up to 98,000 fish and 123 million invertebrates per hectare). They also filter pollutants and limit coastal erosion.
An ecosystem in danger
- Around 1/3 of all meadows have disappeared since the end of the XIX? century.
- A soccer pitch disappears every 30 minutes.
- 7% disappear every year worldwide.
- Of the 72 known species, 22 are threatened and 21% near-threatened or vulnerable, according to the IUCN.
The situation in France
With the world's largest maritime domain, France has a major responsibility. French seagrass beds cover 1,250 km² (Indian, Pacific and Caribbean oceans). In Brittany, for example, over 500 animal species can be found in eelgrass beds. In the Mediterranean, Posidonia meadows account for 20% of biodiversity.
Fondation de la Mer actions
- Restoration program launched in 2022 (collection and transplantation of fragments).
- Alliance for European Seas: European partnership (with MEDSEA and John Nurminen Foundation) to restore seagrass beds from the north to the south of the continent.
? 68,000 plants already restored, with a further 51,000 planned for 2026. - SOS CORAIL platform: funds projects in overseas France (reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds).
Call to action
Anaïs Massé, the Foundation's scientific manager, insists: "Meadows are carbon sinks, biodiversity refuges and natural shields. We need to raise awareness, protect and restore them without delay
Priorities include:
- Monitoring and restoration of degraded areas.
- Support for scientific research.
- Raising awareness among local communities and young people.
- Participatory monitoring tools (inspired by the Mangrove Observation Network).
