A £2.4 million seagrass restoration project has been launched to revive this crucial marine plant in the waters around northern Scotland.

Over the next three years, the initiative aims to plant 14 hectares (34.6 acres) of seagrass, a species often hailed as a “wonder plant” due to its vital role in marine ecosystems. Seagrass meadows, sometimes compared to rainforests, provide food and shelter for thousands of marine species but have been in decline since the 1930s.

Research by University College London estimates that 92% of Britain’s seagrass meadows have been lost over the past century, leaving previously thriving areas as “lifeless seabeds.”

The project is a collaboration between the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

Seagrass plays a crucial role in marine health, offering habitat and food for diverse species. It also purifies water, slows waves to protect coastlines from flooding, and absorbs carbon dioxide, making it a key player in combating climate change.

Scotland’s vast 18,000 km (11,185 miles) of coastline supports over 8,000 species, making its waters an essential habitat for marine biodiversity.

SMEEF, hosted by NatureScot, highlights this project as an example of successful collaboration between businesses and the public sector to tackle environmental challenges.

Nick Halfhide, NatureScot’s chief executive, emphasised that the initiative will “improve the health of our seas and address both the nature and climate crises.”

He said: “Nature and climate are closely linked; if one is suffering, the other will be as well.

“So we need to take care of our seas, and our seagrass, and restore nature at scale.”

Shirley Robertson, SSEN’s head of strategic planning and sustainability, stressed the importance of restoring seagrass, calling the project “vital” for marine conservation.

She said: “The positive contribution of seagrass to the environment cannot be underestimated, which is why at SSEN we made the commitment in our 2023-28 business plan to help fund the restoration of these underwater meadows.”

Scotland’s acting net zero and energy secretary Gillian Martin said: “It is great to see this investment by SSEN into seagrass restoration, which will benefit wildlife and coastal communities all around Scotland and which really demonstrates the value of SMEEF as an innovative vehicle to attract investment into nature.

“Tackling the twin nature and climate crises cannot be achieved by any government alone – securing private investment is vital to meeting the scale of these challenges.”