Seagrass meadows rank among the most productive ecosystems in the ocean. They filter coastal waters, store carbon, provide habitat and nursery grounds for countless species, and help to reduce wave energy along coastlines. Yet across Europe, these underwater meadows have declined significantly over recent decades. Rising water temperatures, eutrophication, coastal development, and intensive use continue to place growing pressure on these habitats.
To address this trend, ESRA has developed the European Seagrass Recommendations 2026—the first continent-wide scientific consensus on how to protect, monitor, and restore seagrass meadows across Europe. The document, co-created by more than 50 scientists from 17 European countries, sets out eight concrete recommendations to guide policymakers, managers, and funders in reversing decades of seagrass loss.
“We now have the science, the tools, and the momentum to turn the tide,” said Dr. Esther Thomsen, marine biologist at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, who contributed to the recommendations.
Her colleague Dr. Maike Paul from the Ludwig Franzius Institute at Leibniz University Hannover added: “Success requires political will, sustained investment, and governance frameworks that actually enable restoration rather than obstruct it. These recommendations provide a clear, evidence-based roadmap for that action.” The timely publication of the European Seagrass Recommendations will contribute to facilitating the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation but are also equally applicable to non-member states.
From Protection to Restoration Practice: A Roadmap for Restoring Europe’s Seagrass Meadows
The recommendations cover the full restoration continuum—from safeguarding existing meadows and reducing human pressures, to large-scale active planting, long-term monitoring, and the development of sustainable donor material supply chains. They call for stronger alignment between European environmental policy and restoration practice, streamlined permitting, and substantial increases in long-term funding. The document also emphasizes the importance of community involvement, ethical standards, and open data sharing.
European Cooperation as a Key Driver
The recommendations were developed following the 2nd European Seagrass Restoration Workshop in April 2025 in France and finalized at a drafting meeting in February 2026 in the Netherlands. They align with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Prof. Dr. Thorsten Reusch from GEOMAR supported the process as a scientific reviewer.
“The importance of European collaboration on seagrass is clear,” said Thomsen, “alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
ESRA fosters collaboration across disciplines and helps bridge the gap between science and policy. The jointly developed recommendations aim to strengthen awareness and support actors in restoring seagrass meadows effectively and responsibly.
