Seagrass spotter session with Restoration Forth

The Ecology Centre is running a Seagrass spotter session in Burntisland on May 16th to share knowledge with communities in Fife about and how to identify seagrass species. This session will use the Seagrass Spotter app developed by Restoration Forth’s Project Seagrass as a method to identify and log sightings of seagrass. Seagrass meadows are critical to all life on our planet.

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that thrive in shallow waters across the globe, from tropical regions to the Arctic Circle. They form dense underwater meadows that are vital to both ecosystems and human communities. They support food security through fish production, enhance water quality by acting as natural filters, protect coastlines from erosion, storms, and flooding, and play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage.

Despite their importance, seagrass meadows are threatened. Since 1880, ~20% of global seagrass meadows have been lost. Recent estimates reveal persistent declines of 1%–2% per year. Unfortunately, seagrasses remain one of the least protected coastal ecosystems, facing threats from coastal development, nutrient runoff, and climate change.

The message is urgent: healthy seagrasses are key to mitigating climate change, adapting to its impacts, building resilience, and providing numerous societal benefits. Immediate action is needed to protect seagrasses by prioritizing ambitious, coordinated efforts in conservation, sustainable management, and restoration.

Please come along and learn how to help save this vital plant.  Please download the Seagrass Spotter App on your mobile before the session, so you can log sightings during this event. We will meet at the Beacon Leisure Centre waterfront car park at 09:30am on May 16th, where they will meet with Lyle, the Ecology Centre’s Seagrass Officer, who will lead this event. The group will learn about Restoration Forth and seagrass before accessing the beach. The activity will last roughly 2.5 hours and attendees will walk out across the sands during low tide to inspect the seagrass meadow on Burntisland Sands.

What to bring

Please ensure that you bring warm, waterproof clothing, a drink, and any medication you may need. This is an exposed coastal site, so we recommend bringing plenty of layers. Conversely, if the weather is set to be warm, attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of drinking water, sun protection and a hat. As we will be conducting our seeding trials at low tide, there may be tidal pools, so wellies and waterproof trousers are essential. A mobile phone with the Seagrass Spotter application downloaded.

Accessibility

We anticipate the activity to last approximately 3 hours. There will be no cover when on the beach, limited seating and no toilets. Toilet access will be available at the start and end of the event, public toilets can be located at the corner of Links Place and Burntisland High Street. There is a 30p charge to use these facilities. So please bring change with you on the day. Alternatively, the Beacon Leisure Centre allows the public to access their facilities. However, the leisure centre does not open until 11am.

We will be on the move during this task and will require periods of bending down to inspect seagrass. The activity also includes walking across gentle slopes, uneven sand, rocky ground, slippery surfaces, and standing pools of water.

Keeping everyone safe

Our group leader is a trained first aider and will be carrying a first aid kit and mobile phone.

Attendees will be expected to register for this event and provide ticket evidence on the day. To attend this event children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Attendees are advised to have updated their emergency contact details in their phone in case of an emergency.

What if this session is cancelled?

If this event is cancelled due to poor weather conditions, we will get in touch with you the day before to let you know. If there is a sudden change in the forecast, we may be in touch on the day of the activity. Please keep an eye on your emails prior to the event. Likewise, if you can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible to allow for other people to attend.

Who we are:

Restoration Forth is a major marine restoration programme working with communities to restore seagrass habitats and European flat oyster populations in the Firth of Forth. Our goal is to inspire and give agency to community members from around the Forth to participate in and lead on restoration activities in the marine environment. Restoration Forth is managed by WWF Scotland but is a partnership of scientific institutions, environmental charities, and community hubs. The Restoration Forth Project is a multi-year project which endeavours to re-establish native habitats within the Firth of Forth. The project is focused on restoring populations of both seagrass and the European flat oyster. The first phase of Restoration Forth (2022-24) was made possible by funding from Aviva, the Moondance Foundation, the ScottishPower Foundation and the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, and managed by NatureScot. The current phase of Restoration Forth is made possible by funding from Sky and the Cinven Foundation; the project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.

Need more information?

If you have any further questions please email Lyle at lyle@theecologycentre.org