Levka"“They're a nursery habitat — a lot of young fish and crustaceans and other organisms grow up in them,” he said. “If we don't have seagrasses, we don't have bay scallops at all in these ecosystems.”
Eelgrass also protects against coastal erosion, Long said. The meadows absorb some of the energy from waves before they hit the coast, and the plants' roots help stabilize mud and sand in coastal bays. Plus, they help keep climate-changing carbon out of the atmosphere by storing it in sediment.
(. . .)
But this critical plant is in decline. If scientists can't find a way to help eelgrass flourish, the results could hurt fishermen and coastal communities."
Saving eelgrass, the most important plant you’ve likely never heard of
Eelgrass is a critical habitat for fish, protects against coastal erosion and stores carbon. But it's threatened by pollution and climate change. Dozens of local scientists are working to protect and restore New England's seagrass meadows.