Charities urge government to act after landmark report into seabed carbon

Louise Frohlich
Written By
Maximilian Schwerdtfeger
Reviewed By
Published on 1 October 2024
  • 224 million tonnes of organic carbon is stored in the top 10cm of the UK’s seabed
  • 43% of this carbon is stored in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
  • The UK has a commitment to protect 30% and restore 30% of nature by 2030
A view from the seabed

UK seabeds can capture up to 13 million tonnes of organic carbon per year

Environmental charities have urged the UK government to do more to protect the country’s marine environment after a study suggests there are 13 million tonnes of organic carbon stored in the seabed that could be used to get to net zero.

The Blue Carbon Mapping Project report estimates that in the top 10cm of the UK’s seabed sediment and vegetated habitats alone, 224 million tonnes of organic carbon is stored, 43% of which is stored in MPAs.

Conducted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) on behalf of a group of wildlife charities, including WWF, The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB, it is the first of its kind to map and estimate how much carbon is stored in a country’s seabed habitats, including in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Tom Brook, blue carbon specialist at WWF UK, said the project reveals how critical seas are in regulating the climate and underscores the “urgent need” to protect and restore our seabed habitats. 

“While saltmarshes and kelp forests punch above their weight in terms of capturing carbon, the mud really is the star here – accumulating and storing vast amounts on the seabed,” Brooks said.

“But we need to make sure it goes undisturbed for it to fulfil this critical function; harmful activities such as bottom trawling must be stopped.”

Kirsten Carter, head of UK marine policy, RSPB, said: “Accelerating efforts on land to tackle the nature and climate emergency is critical, but we must not underestimate the role of UK seas. 

Carter described the report as a “game changer” for better understanding the marine environment and as “a huge asset for decision-makers” before urging the government to act on its findings. 

“This means restoring habitats, properly planning offshore development, and investing in protected areas to safeguard wildlife and keep blue carbon locked up,” Carter explained. 

SAMS has only researched the top 10 cm of sediment and so the actual carbon storage is much greater. Some sediments are 100s of metres thick and contain carbon from the past several thousand years.

Blue carbon stores are threatened by seabed disturbances, such as bottom trawling and offshore developments and charities have called for stronger measures to be put in place to protect the UK seas. 

Disturbing these habitats can release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, which worsens climate change and threatens biodiversity. 

Forests in the UK cover roughly 32,500 km² and can sequester up to 4.8 million tonnes of organic carbon annually. Seabed habitats cover nearly 885,000 km², three times the size of the UK’s landmass, and could capture up to 13 million tonnes. 

UK governments have already championed the creation of the convention on Biodiversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework, which has a 30×30 commitment to protect at least 30% and restore at least 30% of nature by 2030. 

The target is intended to directly protect and prioritise areas of biodiversity and areas important for the continuation of ecosystem functions. 

The WWF, The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB want to improve strategic planning of activities in UK seas through blue carbon assessments, where blue carbon is always a consideration in marine plans.

This would involve more investment and research on blue carbon, with funding allocated to restoring habitats, monitoring of blue carbon dynamics, and adding seagrass and saltmarsh to the Greenhouse Gas Registry to track emissions.

The charities are also looking to support transition in the fishing industry away from fishing techniques that damage the seabed.

Joan Edwards, director of marine policy for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “These world-first reports reveal the enormous value of UK seas, while highlighting that many areas need far better protection.

Edwards urged “strategic decision-making from policymakers” to recognise the value of blue carbon by minimising the impact of human activities on the seabed. 

He claimed that damaging activities such as bottom trawling and large development must not take place in protected areas. 

“This research gives the UK an opportunity to lead the world in protecting blue carbon and marine biodiversity.”

Written by

Louise Frohlich

Louise joined The Eco Experts as Editorial Assistant in April 2004. She is a talented artist who has a keen interest in solutions that lead to a more environmentally-friendly future.

Louise graduated from the University of Winchester in 2022 and went on to write for The Eco Experts sister site, Expert Reviews. She has taken part in charity expeditions to Ecuador and Uganda to help build water pipes, promote environmental cleanup initiatives and implement sustainable farming techniques. She now uses her knowledge to help readers make more eco-friendly choices.

Alongside her passion for the environment she enjoys theatre, portraiture and Egyptology.

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Reviewed By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

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