The focus of this collection is the preservation of seagrass. Seagrass contributes to marine ecosystems' biodiversity tremendously and soaks up about 10% of the carbon in the oceans. Furthermore, seagrass grows in shallow waters within many different tropical and temperate climate areas. Yet, seagrass populations are in decline due to rising temperatures. Climate change has contributed to about 19% of total seagrass loss, and the rate has been steadily rising in recent years.
The major themes from the stories I collected were habitat restoration and ecosystem biodiversity. Seagrass brings in new species to its ecosystem which therefore advances biodiversity. Additionally, many marine species need seagrass as their main source of food, so without it, they move away. One project I found was from the Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve which restored 10,000 acres of seagrass intending to preserve the habitat that once lived there. This, in turn, maintains a healthy level of carbon in the ocean and supports a dying ecosystem.
An interconnected socio-economic issue that is occurring due to the loss of seagrass is a decrease in the number of fish nurseries. Fisheries are in decline because fish rely on seagrass to house their eggs. After all, it is safer and less exposed to predators, not to mention that some fish eat seagrass. Consequently, fishermen need to find a new way of reproducing fish so that their livelihoods stay intact.