Nitrogen Pollution Major Threat to
Vital Seagrass
By ecoRI News staff
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| Trustom Pond, photo by Will Collette |
A federally funded
scientific study on regional seagrass health recently released by The Nature
Conservancy points to nitrogen pollution — from sewage and fertilizers — and
warmer water temperatures as the killer threats to seagrasses throughout the
coastal waters of southern New England.
Seagrass is vital habitat
for fish and shellfish and is important for water quality.
The study, one component of The Nature Conservancy’s Regional Seagrass Initiative, highlights the need to control nitrogen pollution and
protect seagrass throughout the region, specifically citing the importance of
understanding and reducing nitrogen pollution from such sources as cesspools,
septic systems, and the application of fertilizers for landscaping and
agriculture.
Underwater seagrass
meadows provide critical habitat for numerous species, including recreationally
and commercially important fish and shellfish. They also play an important role
in maintaining the overall health of southern New England’s coastlines.
Since 1930, however,
regional seagrass populations have suffered massive losses due to many factors,
including disease, brown tides, impacts from multiple uses of the waterways,
and excess nitrogen from human sources.
“Seagrass protection is
a critical component of sustaining the ecosystem services that people rely upon
for food, jobs and recreation, and are meaningful for our culture and economic
future,” said John Torgan, director of ocean and coastal conservation for
The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island.
“This study shows us where nitrogen
pollution is coming from at each of the study sites and how much needs to be
reduced to restore the conditions — clean and clear water — that seagrass
meadows and other marine species need to thrive.”