More than 50 scientists from 17 European countries have published the first continent-wide recommendations for protecting and restoring seagrass meadows. Developed by the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance (ESRA), the guidance outlines eight priority actions to help reverse decades of habitat loss and support implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
Seagrass meadows are among the world's most valuable coastal ecosystems. They provide habitat for marine life, reduce coastal erosion, improve water quality and store large amounts of carbon, making them an important ally in climate change mitigation. Healthy seagrass ecosystems may also help buffer local seawater against ocean acidification through photosynthesis, potentially providing temporary refuges for sensitive marine species.
Despite these benefits, seagrass meadows continue to decline across Europe due to pollution, coastal development, invasive species and other human pressures. The new recommendations call for stronger protection of existing meadows, increased restoration efforts, long-term monitoring and greater investment to ensure these ecosystems can continue to support biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of Europe's coasts in a warming and increasingly acidifying ocean.
Source: European Sea Grass Alliance 29 May 2026 https://esra-europe.eu/blog/
