More Than 430 Seagrass Shoots Found in Fowey Estuary — SkimNews
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- Cornwall Wildlife Trust recorded more than 430 seagrass shoots across 50 patches of seabed in the Fowey Estuary during summer surveys.
- Chloe James called the growth "hugely encouraging" after an uncertain spring in which only six seedlings had emerged by the end of April.
- Torpoint was where volunteers collected donor-meadow seeds in autumn 2025 before planting them in the Fowey Estuary; the seeds stayed buried through winter and began growing in spring.
- Helford Estuary saw algal growth appear to wipe out planted seedlings at one site, although three plants were later found alive and spreading.
- mainland Britain lost up to 92% of its seagrass meadows over the last century.
- Seagrass can capture carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, according to previous research highlighted by the project, while providing nursery grounds for fish, improving water quality and reducing coastal erosion.
- Cornwall Wildlife Trust plans to plant more seeds in the Fowey and Helford estuaries, with further monitoring planned for spring 2027.
Why it matters: For Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the marine life supported by seagrass, more than 430 shoots across 50 seabed patches provide documented evidence that restoration is producing new growth. With further monitoring planned for spring 2027, the trust now has measurable new growth to track while continuing seed planting in two estuaries.
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