In our northern latitudes we may not have mangroves, but we have seagrass instead to protect our coasts and provide a nursery for the likes of pipefish and sea horses (in England anyway).
Back in the summer Action West Loch members (AWL) discovered an extensive seagrass meadow roughly in the middle of West Loch Tarbert. It extended down to a depth of 3-4 metres and had loads of beadlet anenomes clinging to it. In the shallower water there was a lot of algae attached, but this did not seem to affect its ability to photosynthesise.
Just north of us, in Loch Craignish, volunteers have been experimenting with how to restore the meadows. Experience so far indicates it is slow, painstaking work.
Fortunately in the general area of the Sound of Gigha, there seems to be a fair quantity of seagrass. The picture was taken beside Muasdale reefs from our Canadian canoe. Since then friends have sailed beside Cara and Gigha and saw extensive beds.
bioregioning 