Scientists call for seascape‑scale restoration to enhance UK marine biodiversity and climate resilience

Welcome to Net Zero News, your daily briefing on the UK’s transition to a low‑carbon future.

A major new study highlights the urgent need to shift to seascape‑scale restoration across the UK’s coastal zones. Conducted by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with partners including ZSL and the University of Edinburgh, the research emphasises that coastal habitats—such as oyster reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows function as interconnected systems rather than isolated entities. Addressing them in isolation undermines the full ecological and climate potential of restoration efforts. The lead author, Professor Joanne Preston, argues that restoring entire seascape ecosystems is essential to achieving international climate and biodiversity targets.

Restoring seascapes also offers tangible benefits for carbon storage and climate mitigation. These coastal ecosystems provide nature‑based solutions that help lock away significant amounts of carbon while supporting biodiversity and bolstering coastal resilience. Prior approaches that focus narrowly on single habitat types risk missing these synergistic advantages, the study warns.

This call for holistic marine restoration aligns with growing concerns over harmful practices that degrade marine protected areas (MPAs). Recent revelations show that activities such as bottom trawling remain permitted in many UK MPAs: 74% of inshore MPAs in England and a staggering 92% in Scotland continue to allow destructive practices, even in designated protected zones. The resulting damage to sensitive marine habitats, which are vital for biodiversity and carbon storage, has prompted calls from conservation groups to end these practices.

Campaigners have amplified calls to the government from marine conservation organisations, pointing out that public awareness is alarmingly low: 63% of UK adults were unaware that bottom trawling remains legal in protected areas, and only 26% believed the government is doing enough to safeguard marine life.

Together, these insights suggest that the UK’s marine restoration and protection strategies must evolve. Conservation efforts should transition from piecemeal interventions toward large‑scale, connected habitat restoration across seascapes. Additionally, enforcement of protections in MPAs must improve to ensure that designated areas actually deliver the intended biodiversity and climate benefits.

What this means:
By rethinking marine restoration through a holistic seascape lens and reinforcing protection in marine zones, the UK can strengthen its contributions to both biodiversity recovery and net‑zero outcomes. These measures could offer nature‑based carbon sequestration, resilient ecosystems for climate adaptation, and heightened public trust in marine policy. Addressing the gaps in current protection regimes and scaling restoration efforts offers a compelling route to delivering real, measurable impact for both nature and climate.

Upcoming Events:
Net Zero Scotland Projects Conference -16 June 2026, Edinburgh

Net Zero Nations Projects Conference – 6 October 2026, Westminster

Do you have technologies, innovations or solutions that can help public-sector net-zero projects?
Email: lee@net-zero.scot