Scientists Call for Seascape‑Scale Restoration to Revive UK Marine Biodiversity

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A major new study, led by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and the University of Edinburgh, has issued a clarion call for a shift from piecemeal marine conservation to an integrated, seascape‑scale restoration approach. The research, presented at the International Seascape Symposium II in London, makes the case that coastal habitats such as oyster reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows do not exist in isolation; rather, they form interconnected systems whose ecological functions are amplified when restored collectively. Evidence shows that these linked habitats better deliver on biodiversity goals, support fisheries, enhance coastal protection, and bolster carbon storage yet the UK has suffered severe biodiversity losses, with up to 95% of oyster reefs and 90% of seagrasses already lost. Scientists believe only a strategic, large‑scale restoration of these linked environments can reverse the decline, urging updates to marine protection frameworks, environmental assessments, and cross‑boundary restoration planning. The findings underscore the urgency of holistic marine restoration to meet both climate and biodiversity targets.

What this means:
Restoring our coastal ecosystems must embrace a seascape perspective recognising that interconnected habitats provide far greater benefits than fragmented efforts. Policy makers must adapt marine protection measures and environmental planning to support restoration at scale, and fund cross‑habitat initiatives that drive biodiversity recovery, sediment health, and carbon sequestration all vital to achieving net‑zero ambitions and safeguarding marine resilience.

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