Seagrass: The Ocean's Unsung Hero

Sustainability Soundbites from E+E Leader · Jul 8, 2025 · 5m

Seagrasses have much in common with their terrestrial relatives.They have flowers, seeds, roots, and leaves and they convert the sunlight that filters down to them into energy through photosynthesis. This has earned seagrass the nickname ‘the lungs of the sea,’ because of the oxygen it releases during this process. Unlike grass on land, seagrasses lack strong stems and are instead buoyed by the surrounding water. Seagrass meadows support a diverse array of wildlife—including fish, turtles, dugongs, octopuses, shrimp, crabs, oysters, and sponges—whether as a source of food, a natural habitat…