SALCOMBE is a prime seagrass habitat and a new citizen science project is providing unique opportunities for local residents.

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has launched the first seagrass based citizen science project in the South West.

The Community Seagrass Initiative has been awarded £475,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to provide opportunities for volunteers to get involved in marine science. The project will survey 191 miles of coastline from Looe to Weymouth, specifically looking at seagrass beds.

Seagrass is the world’s only submersed, marine flowering plant, which creates large meadows in shallow waters on sandy seabed. Many seagrass meadows, or beds, exist around South West England, Wales and West coast of Scotland, as well as around the world. The meadows act like an underwater rainforest, providing shelter for 40 times more marine species than if it wasn’t there. Seagrass meadows are home to some of the most charismatic species in the UK such as seahorses and cuttlefish, and act as a nursery ground for commercial fish species.

They can also improve water quality and stabilise sediments reducing coastal erosion. This vital habitat is in decline by seven per cent a year caused by coastal threats such as pollution, coastal development and increased water use over the habitat. It is in need of a management plan, but first the health must be assessed.

The three project officers who will run this project in the South West for at least the next three years, are keen to reach out to the coastal communities to recruit volunteer divers, kayakers, boat users, teachers and internet users to help with the surveys.

Local marine biologist Rachel Cole is the Salcombe and Torbay project officer for the community seagrass initiative. She says: ‘Having dived and surveyed many seagrass beds in the south west, Salcombe has some of the most impressive meadows.

‘The variety of marine species that inhabit the metre-long leaves of the subtidal grass, create a unique ecosystem that supports important commercial fisheries species and protected species such as stalked jellyfish and fan mussels.

‘However it is a shame to see damage in certain areas. I am working closely with the South Hams AONB estuary manager Nigel Mortimer who is helping spread the word about the project to recruit volunteers.’

Harbour Master Adam Parnell has been very supportive of the project and has granted us permission to dive in the harbour limits, which is usually prohibited, to conduct diver surveys of the seagrass.

He says: ‘It’s important that our role as an eco-port includes supporting and promoting projects like the Community Seagrass Initiative. Bringing benefits to the local community which will continually improve the sustainability of important marine habitats such as seagrass.’

Look out for the CSI team at local events with their marquee and underwater robot, which can film the seagrass beds and beam the live footage back to shore for passers by the view.

Rachel is also visiting local dive clubs, yacht clubs and schools to talk about the project and provide free resources for the community to utilise.

Rachel is keen to find out if there are volunteers based in Salcombe who would like to get involved and take advantage of this opportunity to receive free information, training and a chance to get out on the water and contribute to marine science and conservation in the area.

Contact her on: [email protected], 01752 680100 ext. 2, or 07595 542979, or visit the CSI website: www.csi-seagrass.co.uk and search Community Seagrass Initiative on Facebook and Twitter for news and updates.

By Sam Acourt. 01548 856353. [email protected].