Why are seagrass meadows important?

Many commercially-important species use seagrasses.

• Several commercially important species live on or visit the seagrass meadows at some point of their lives. Nurse sharks, for instance, have been recorded visi ng the shallow seagrass meadows in Guánica and forming breeding aggrega ons at certain points of the year.

• Seagrass leaves trap sediment while the roots stabilize the seafloor. This process prevents coastal erosion and keeps the waters clear.

• As previously men oned, seagrass meadows help reduce energy impacts from surf, des and currents. This allows sediment to se le and later, become trapped among the seagrass roots. Because of the lack of suspended sediment in the water, sunlight easily reaches the sea bo om, allowing photosynthesis.

• The seagrass meadows’ extensive anchoring system (roots and rhizomes) helps prevent seafloor erosion since it increases sedimenta on (sediment forma on and deposit), compac ng and stabilizing the bo om.