Scientists Call for Seascape‑Scale Restoration to Boost Marine Biodiversity

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A new study published in NPI Ocean Sustainability and unveiled at the International Seascape Symposium II in London is highlighting the crucial role of coastal habitats as interconnected ecosystems and urging a shift in conservation strategy across the UK. The research, led by the University of Portsmouth with contributions from the Zoological Society of London and the University of Edinburgh, demonstrates that key marine environments including oyster reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows do not operate in isolation but as parts of a seamless, dynamic seascape

The evidence indicates that restoring entire seascapes, rather than piecemeal interventions, is vital to meeting both biodiversity and climate targets. The report emphasises that restoring these coastal systems collectively amplifies their ecological functions, such as carbon storage, shoreline protection and species support. These functions are essential for achieving global climate and biodiversity commitments.

This shift in restoration strategy comes amid growing recognition of the dual benefit that thriving marine habitats offer: supporting biodiversity while also bolstering the UK’s net‑zero aspirations through enhanced carbon sequestration. Coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows and saltmarshes are known to sequester carbon effectively, and a connected approach would strengthen the cumulative impact of restoration efforts.

What this means:
This study signals a major evolution in marine conservation strategy. The push for seascape‑scale restoration means that policymakers and conservationists must move beyond isolated habitat projects and design initiatives that reflect the ecological reality of connected coastal environments. The UK’s nature recovery and coastal climate strategies should now integrate whole‑system restoration thinking to maximise both biodiversity and carbon outcomes.

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