Seagrass meadows may offer coastal communities a more nutritious catch than reefs
Researchers surveyed 40 sites along the East African coastline from Kenya to Mozambique, studying seagrass and coral reef ecosystems. They found that when it comes to benefits for coastal communities, seagrasses bring something important to the plate. In a paper published in Cell Reports Sustainability, they write that while reefs support “greater fish biomass, abundance, […]
Researchers have discovered that seagrass meadows in East Africa may offer coastal communities a more nutritious catch than coral reefs, according to a study published in Cell Reports Sustainability. While reefs support greater fish biomass, abundance, and richness, seagrass meadows may provide a richer mix of nutrients for human consumption.
The findings suggest that protecting seagrass meadows should be prioritized for public health and food security, alongside biodiversity conservation. Lead author Benjamin Jones, a Ph.D. student at Stockholm University, explained that the study aims to shift the focus from fish production to the reliability of catching nutritious fish, which is crucial for vulnerable coastal communities.
The study found that the seagrass meadows studied were 1.6 times more nutritionally multifunctional than coral reefs, when accounting for fish biomass and depth.
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