Seagrass fixes as much carbon dioxide as tropical forests.
The University of Western Australia found that since 1980, 29% of seagrass has disappeared and the overall rate of loss has accelerated from 0.9% a year, before 1940, to 7% a year, since 1990.
Nutrients in sewage and run-off from agriculture and industry are the major cause of seagrass death, says Kendrick.
These nutrients trigger the growth of algae, plants and animals that grow above or on seagrass, and stop it from getting the sunlight it needs. [story]