Imagine a powerful natural ally in the battle against climate change, one that not only combats coastal erosion but also offers hope for ecosystems in distress. This is precisely what the seagrass restoration initiative in the Humber Estuary represents, and recent outcomes from this project are showing "promising results" that could reshape the future of seagrass restoration across the UK.
The Wilder Humber seagrass restoration trial, which is one of the largest of its kind in the UK, has been spearheaded by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, with valuable support from Ørsted, ReMeMaRe, and the Water Environment Improvement Fund. Their ambitious goal includes planting ten acres of seagrass each year throughout the estuary. The latest phase of this trial, which was carefully monitored over an entire growing season, explored three different planting techniques to identify the most effective methods for re-establishing this essential underwater ecosystem.
Seagrass is a unique flowering plant capable of thriving solely in seawater, earning it the title of one of the "world’s most powerful natural tools for tackling climate change." It has the remarkable ability to capture carbon at rates up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, thereby playing a crucial role in climate mitigation. Furthermore, seagrass protects coastlines from storm damage and erosion while enhancing water quality by absorbing harmful pollutants.
In the UK, seagrass meadows are vital habitats that nurture juvenile fish, including species like bass and sand eel, and support important bird populations such as brent geese. The UK is home to four varieties of seagrass, two of which are known as tasselweeds and the other two as eelgrass, with the Wilder Humber project focusing on reintroducing dwarf eelgrass.
Historically, the Humber Estuary boasted extensive seagrass meadows, estimated to cover around 1,100 acres according to older maps. However, during the 20th century, these habitats faced a dramatic decline, dwindling to a mere 12 acres due to factors such as industrial development, water pollution, disease, and the loss of natural coastal areas.
Today, restoring seagrass is crucial for revitalizing this significant habitat within the estuary. In their recent trial, Wilder Humber tested three different planting techniques: the direct injection of seeds into the seabed through Dispenser Injection Seeding (DIS), the use of hessian seed bags, and the transplantation of small intact patches of existing seagrass. This approach aimed to determine which method is most effective in the challenging conditions of the Humber.
The results were enlightening, revealing that both DIS and transplantation produced substantially better recovery outcomes, with DIS resulting in the highest number of new patches being established. Andy van der Schatte Olivier, the marine programme manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, remarked, "These results are incredibly encouraging for the future of seagrass in the Humber. They demonstrate that even in such dynamic environments, we can successfully restore seagrass at scale when utilizing the appropriate techniques. By combining rapidly-spreading seeds with well-established transplanted cores, we’re providing these meadows with optimal conditions to recover, flourish, and offer tangible benefits for wildlife, our climate, and coastal communities."
Building on these encouraging findings, the Wilder Humber team is now set to implement a combined strategy that integrates both transplantation and DIS techniques to effectively rebuild healthy seagrass meadows. Samir Whitaker, biodiversity lead specialist at Ørsted, emphasized, "At Ørsted, we believe that the offshore wind industry has a role and responsibility to not only reduce impacts on nature but also to foster recovery wherever we operate. We are dedicated to creating measurable, positive outcomes for nature in all our projects. The results from the Wilder Humber seagrass restoration trials mark a significant advancement in our understanding and efforts to restore vital coastal habitats."
Through the efforts of Wilder Humber, there is a concerted push to restore marine habitats and species across the Humber Estuary. As part of a five-year initiative, this partnership aims not only to restore and enhance nearly 40 hectares of protected habitats but also to rejuvenate the native oyster population in the Humber to over half a million.
Of the overall ambition for 40 hectares, 30 hectares will be dedicated to reviving the lost seagrass meadows at Spurn Point. Wilder Humber is engaging local communities throughout this restoration journey, sharing the narrative of their efforts and providing opportunities for residents to contribute to wildlife conservation in the Humber estuary. For further information about this inspiring initiative, you can visit wilderhumber.org.uk.
