Many people are familiar with the use of artificial reefs to help restore underwater ecosystems, especially for coral and fish:
But a new report shows that the benefits go even further to also help make seagrass meadows more resilient and grow faster—great news since these meadows are a critical factor in ocean carbon sequestration and ocean health.
- According to EcoWatch, “Seagrass meadows have been shrinking for nearly a century. A United Nations report estimates that they are disappearing at a rate of approximately seven percent annually. This causes not only loss of habitat, but the release of vital carbon stores.”
The artificial reefs attract more fish to an area, and the droppings from those fish fertilize the ocean floor, making it easier for seagrass to grow abundantly.