Case study: Restoring seagrass meadows and oyster reefs

Seagrass meadows and oyster reefs are some of the UK’s most important – and most threatened – marine habitats. But in recent decades, we’ve lost up to 92% of our seagrass and 95% of our native oysters.

To help reverse this decline, we have teamed up with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to restore Kent’s seagrass and oyster reefs. Together, we’re funding surveys and data collection, and trialling the UK’s first non-commercial seagrass restoration licence to speed up the recovery.

Restoring these ecosystems will bring wide-ranging environmental benefits. Seagrass provides shelter for fish, locks away carbon and helps protect our coasts from erosion. Meanwhile, oyster reefs act as natural filters, cleaning the water by removing pollution and excess nutrients.

But the project is not just about nature; it’s also about people. By improving inshore water quality and supporting the recovery of local fisheries, it creates opportunities for communities to get involved and benefit from a healthier marine environment.

By investing in the restoration of Kent’s seabed, we’re helping bring back vital habitats, strengthen local biodiversity and create a more resilient future for our seas.