The UK Government is focusing on seabed habitats’ potential to capture up to three times more carbon than forests annually, highlighting their critical role in climate regulation. Seagrass meadows, salt marshes, and seabed sediments store vast amounts of “blue carbon,” primarily absorbed by marine organisms and incorporated into seabed sediments.
To enhance carbon capture, the government is urged to protect seabed habitats from disturbances such as bottom trawling. By leveraging digital mapping and monitoring tools, the UK can track carbon sequestration and lead in global marine biodiversity protection.
