UK Seabed Sediments Identified as Major Carbon Sink Needing Protection

New study reveals that seabed habitats in the UK store vast amounts of carbon, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced marine conservation efforts.

Researchers found that UK seabed sediments store 244 million tonnes of organic carbon, far surpassing the carbon capture of the country's forests.
The study, conducted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science, is the first to quantify carbon storage across all UK seabed habitats.
Human activities such as bottom trawling and coastal development threaten these carbon stores, potentially releasing stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
Conservationists are calling for stricter protections for marine habitats, including better management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to prevent harmful activities.
The report suggests that improved mapping and monitoring of blue carbon habitats like seagrass meadows and salt marshes could enhance their conservation and carbon sequestration potential.