Marine and coastal restoration is progressing at speed across the UK and Scotland. While much media attention and funding focus is on the practitioner-based, hands-on work, behind every meaningful practical act of restoration there is something less visible, but equally as important: science.
This project developed a baseline (%) germination information for Zostera marina seedlings to be applied to future cryo-preservation trials in summer 2026 as well as investigated the effects of environmental variables on seagrass seed germination. The effects of anoxia and freshwater treatments on germination were investigated. The studies findings will feed directly into practical seagrass restoration as well as improved outcomes when defrosting cryo-preserved seedlings.
In 2025 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £9424 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.