March is World Seagrass Month! To celebrate, we’re shining the spotlight on two of our Partners;
Gladstone Ports Corporation and CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre.
Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in underwater meadows along coastlines globally. These marine plants play a pivotal role in maintaining the health and balance of coastal ecosystems and providing essential habitats for a myriad of marine species.
Seagrasses also function as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing significant amounts of carbon
dioxide, and stabilisers of sediments, reducing coastal erosion and maintaining water clarity.
Gladstone Ports Corporation
In the beautiful Gladstone Harbour, where industry and nature coexist, the Gladstone Ports
Corporation (GPC) is making waves in monitoring seagrass ecosystems, showcasing their
commitment to sustainable practices and marine conservation.
GPC’s long-term seagrass monitoring project began in 2002 and has been conducted annually since 2004. The project includes annual mapping of 14 coastal seagrass meadows and five-yearly mapping of all coastal and deep water seagrass in Port Curtis and Rodds Bay.
The data gathered by GPC, in conjunction with expert marine research teams, is provided as an in-kind contribution to the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. This forms the annual seagrass results within the Gladstone Harbour Report Card.
CQUniversity Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre
The Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) is dedicated to collaborating with coastal industries and communities, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to practical solutions. CMERC recognises the value of community and industry and works to understand and preserve the delicate ecosystems that thrive beneath the ocean's surface. One of their initiatives is their groundbreaking research on seagrass – a critical component of marine biodiversity.
CMERC actively engages in seagrass research projects, using their findings to inform effective
restoration strategies. Replanting seagrasses in degraded areas and implementing habitat
restoration initiatives are tangible steps towards rebuilding and conserving these critical marine
ecosystems.
Each year, the CMERC team works with dedicated citizen scientists to collect seagrass flowers which are utilised for research and restoration. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the next
adventure!
Want to learn some fun facts about seagrasses or test your knowledge with a few fun trivia questions? Take our quick quiz below: