IJSK 2026 Restoring Blue Meadows: A Lesson in Marine Stewardship

On March 25, the Junior SeaKeepers cohort from the Asia Chapter gathered for the fifth webinar in the International Junior SeaKeepers Programme 2026 curriculum, exploring the theme of Marine Biodiversity and Human Impact. The session featured Megan Ross from the Ocean Conservation Trust UK, who brought the Blue Meadows Project to life through an engaging and informative presentation.

She introduced seagrass as a vital yet often overlooked ecosystem—one that supports marine biodiversity and plays a crucial role in carbon storage. Participants learned about the threats seagrass faces, from boat damage to declining water quality. Megan then guided the cohort through the project’s three-pronged approach: protecting existing meadows with marker buoys and advanced moorings, restoring habitats using innovative seed mat and HMS Octopus technologies, and fostering community involvement.

With efforts spanning five sites in southwest UK, the project aims to protect 700 hectares and restore 50 hectares annually. The session wrapped up with thoughtful questions, highlighting seagrass’s importance to sea turtles and the complexities of implementing sustainable marine solutions.