Seagrass and Marine Mammal Welfare: Ecosystem Connections

Seagrass meadows support the welfare of multiple marine mammal species including dugongs, sea otters and green sea turtles. Their global decline directly affects the welfare of dependent species.

Key Facts

Seagrass meadows have declined by 35% globally since the 1930s through coastal development and pollution
Over 35 million hectares of seagrass once existed globally with around 20 million hectares remaining
Dugongs depend entirely on seagrass - the loss of meadows forces them to travel further and consume lower quality food
Sea otters consume seagrass-dwelling invertebrates - their presence helps maintain seagrass ecosystem health
Green sea turtles are obligate seagrass grazers during juvenile and adult life stages
Seagrass restoration projects are underway in the UK, Australia, USA and other countries
Seagrass captures carbon at up to 35 times the rate of tropical forests per unit area
Water quality improvement is essential for seagrass restoration - turbidity and nutrient loading are primary stressors

Welfare Considerations

Seagrass decline directly impairs the welfare of multiple marine megafauna species through nutritional stress and habitat loss. Dugongs forced to travel further for food in degraded seagrass areas experience increased energy expenditure and greater exposure to boat traffic, entanglement risk and other anthropogenic threats. Green sea turtles in areas where seagrass has been replaced by algae must consume lower-quality food that cannot support the same body condition. Sea otters deprived of their invertebrate prey base in degraded seagrass areas face nutritional stress. The restoration of seagrass provides cascading welfare benefits across multiple species while also delivering the carbon sequestration and coastal protection services that benefit human communities. Seagrass welfare is an exemplary case of ecosystem health and individual animal welfare aligning.

What You Can Do

Support Seagrass Ocean Rescue and World Seagrass Association restoration programs
Reduce coastal water pollution by minimizing fertilizer use in coastal catchments
Advocate for protection of existing seagrass meadows from development and dredging
Support water quality improvement initiatives in coastal areas with seagrass
Participate in seagrass monitoring programs when visiting coastal areas
Donate to organizations working on seagrass restoration and mapping