At least 18 million people living in poverty across the Indo-Pacific fish in seagrass meadows, while around 6.5 million rely on them as their only fishing grounds. For these communities, the underwater habitats are not simply part of the natural environment but a source of food and a means of earning a living.

But these important fishing grounds face growing pressure from coastal development, changes in land use and poor water quality. When seagrass meadows are damaged or lost, the consequences can extend beyond wildlife. The fish and other marine life they support may also be affected, putting food supplies and household incomes at risk.

Our latest research examines the scale of this dependence and how it relates to poverty. The findings highlight a question that conservation efforts need to address: what happens to people whose livelihoods depend on habitats that are under growing pressure?

Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in shallow coastal waters. They form underwater meadows that support fish and other marine life. People can fish in these habitats using simple nets, traps and lines, or collect shellfish and other marine animals by hand. Unlike some other fishing grounds, seagrass meadows can often be reached without a boat or expensive equipment.

This level of accessibility can be particularly important for households with few resources or alternative ways to earn money. Yet seagrass conservation is often discussed in terms of protecting wildlife and storing carbon. We have known that these habitats support fisheries, but we have had much less understanding of how many people living in poverty rely on them.

To investigate........

© The Conversation