Scientists Call for Seascape‑Scale Restoration to Revive Marine Ecosystems

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A pivotal new study, led by the University of Portsmouth with collaborators from the Zoological Society of London and the University of Edinburgh, urges the UK to shift restoration strategies from isolated habitat projects toward holistic, seascape‑wide marine ecosystem renewal. The researchers highlight that habitats such as oyster reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows are interlinked by ecological processes and must be restored together to rebuild resilient coastal systems and support biodiversity, carbon storage, and fisheries recovery

Published in the Ocean Sustainability journal and presented at the International Seascape Symposium II, this research underscores the functional interdependence between marine habitats. In California, for instance, oyster reefs enable stronger seagrass growth; in New Zealand, kelp-derived carbon boosts fish populations; and in Chesapeake Bay, oyster beds significantly improve water clarity and nutrient cycling.

Alarmingly, the UK has lost up to 95% of oyster reefs and 90% of seagrass coverage. The study argues that piecemeal restoration is insufficient and advocates for a formal definition of “seascape restoration” to recognise the need for integrated reinstatement of multiple connected habitats. Recommendations include reforming marine protected area frameworks, strengthening environmental impact assessments, and embedding land‑sea restoration goals into policy and planning.

What this means:
This research represents a critical evolution in marine conservation thinking. By reframing restoration to encompass entire seascape ecosystems, the UK stands to deliver broader, long-lasting benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience, fisheries health, and coastal protection. Embracing seascape-scale strategies will demand reform across policy, environmental assessments, and marine spatial planning but doing so promises more effective and sustainable marine ecosystem recovery.

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