Seagrass with anemone.
Andy Pegge
Seagrass leaves
On Monday 14th June MWT staff and Seasearch divers headed out to survey a potential seagrass site. Around 3 years ago a local diver reported seeing seagrass in Bulgham bay so we went to confirm it was there, that it hadn’t been lost and try to get a better understanding of the size of the bed.
Seagrass with Netted dog whelk eggs
A 6 person dive team were involved and we covered three areas within the Bay. I’m please to say all three dive pairs found seagrass and in good amounts. Not only is this an important find for this key species but this meadow is also a carbon store, helping in the fight against climate change.
Seagrass with anemone.
Andy Pegge
Seagrass traps carbon in the sediment, where it remains unless it is damaged or dies. Seagrass is sensitive to any physical disturbance such as mobile fishing gear, fishing pots and anchors and anchor chains but it is also susceptible to pollution and nutrient enrichment.
Burrowing anemone amongst the seagrass
The bay also has a great diversity of marine species such as sea hares, crabs and hermit crabs, fish, burrowing anemones, sea slugs and snails, and in good numbers. There were fishing pots in close vicinity to the seagrass which could potential damage the meadow so we hope to work with DEFA in affording the site some form of protection going forward.
Seagrass with a nudibranch
This work wouldn’t be possible without the support from Sea-changers, so a big thanks to them. There will be more focus on seagrass in the coming months so hopefully we’ll have more news later in the year.
