Nature groups call for more protection of the UK’s seas as key carbon stores

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A new report on “blue carbon” estimates there are 244 million tonnes of organic carbon locked in the top 10cm of seabed sediments and in coastal habitats such as saltmarsh, kelp and seagrass beds. This project reveals how critical our seas are in regulating the climate and underscores the urgent need to protect and restore our seabed habitats Tom Brook, WWF-UK They want to see MPAs better managed, stopping damaging activities such as bottom trawling, for blue carbon to be considered in marine planning, and more investment and research allocated to protecting carbon locked in the seas. Tom Brook, blue carbon specialist at WWF-UK, said: “This project reveals how critical our seas are in regulating the climate and underscores the urgent need to protect and restore our seabed habitats. Harmful activities such as bottom trawling must be stopped.” The conservation groups behind the report are urging governments across the UK to strengthen the protection for blue carbon, warning that failing to stop disturbance to MPAs would threaten goals to stop the UK’s contribution to climate change and to protect 30% of the seas for nature by 2030.