The newly formed Manx Eelgrass Group (MEG) took a dip at Fort Island Gully on World Seagrass Day (1st March) to celebrate the launch of a project to champion a species of Seagrass that could have a big impact on marine health and climate change.
Manx Wildlife Trust are thrilled to launch the Manx Eelgrass Group on World Seagrass Day 2023!
Eelgrass (which is the name given to the type of seagrass we have around the IOM – Zostera marina) can store carbon 35 times faster than a tropical forest but is in decline. In the last 40 years, over 30% of eelgrass meadows have disappeared globally (in the last 100 years 90% of seagrass in the British Isles has gone), a trend that Manx Wildlife Trust is committed to helping to reverse locally.
Manx Wildlife Trust will work with a group of specially trained volunteers to research, protect, and restore eelgrass sites in Manx waters. The project has been made possible by sponsorship from KPMG.
We are delighted to be launching our Manx Eelgrass Group, led by our Marine Officer, Dr Lara Howe, with a fantastic team of volunteer divers, funded by KPMG. MEG will initially be focused on the carrying out of an accurate survey of the seagrass around the Isle of Man, measuring locations, areas and abundance of the seagrass present. This will hopefully contribute a key strand of work towards the delivery of the IOM Government Blue Carbon ProjectManx Wildlife Trust CEO
This is a fantastic collaborative project and I’m so grateful for the support from the volunteer divers and KPMG. It shows how working in partnership with business and volunteers is key to us achieving our mission to protect and enhance our environment.Manx Wildlife Trust Marine Conservation Officer
You can find out more about Manx Eelgrass Group here, and if you want to get involved contact MWT Marine Conservation Officer Lara - Lara@mwt.im