Protecting coastal biodiversity supports fisheries

Research carried out by members of the Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, at the College of Science, Swansea University is helping to understand the importance of sensitive coastal habitats, in Wales and the UK, for supporting local fisheries. Studies, conducted around the coast of Pembrokeshire and the Llyn Penninsula, were co-funded by the Welsh Government Ecosystem Resilience and Diversity Fund and the ERDF funded SEACAMS project with collaboration from the Countryside Council for Wales, the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC, and the National Trust.

The researchers used Baited Remote Underwater Video systems and traditional beach seine netting to quantify the fish species present in seagrass, horse mussel and kelp, habitats that have been degraded over time and continue to be under threat in Wales and throughout the UK

Project leader Dr Richard Unsworth said: “Our studies provided evidence of the value of sensitive coastal habitats for supporting economically important fisheries. Our results clearly show how seagrass is important as a juvenile habitat. This was particularly the case for seagrass meadows that contained juvenile fish of at least 10 commercially important species (Cod, Pollock, Whiting, Bass, Mullet, Bass, Plaice, Saithe, Bib, Brill).”

He added: “We all too commonly think of biodiversity conservation as being an activity that is in conflict to industry. But our research is beginning to show that conservation of sensitive coastal habitats in the UK is as much about supporting the fisheries industry as it is about protecting biodiversity.”

The project has been presented on a publically available short film, visit (www.seagrass.org.uk/news).