On March 1st, we celebrate World Seagrass Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of seagrasses and the need to conserve them. Seagrasses are underwater plants that grow in coastal waters on surfaces around the world and certainly in Aruba. They play a crucial role in the health of our oceans and offer many benefits. The Directorate of Nature and Environment published last year all the types of seagrasses that are protected according to our local laws (Landsbesluit bescherming inheemse flora en fauna (AB 2017 no.48)). We also informed about the invasive types of seagrasses. On the occasion of World Seagrass Day 2024, we focus on the benefits of conserving seagrasses.

Biodiversity: Seagrasses provide food and protection for a wide variety of marine animals, including fish, crabs, sea turtles, and marine mammals. They act as nursery areas where species go when they need rehabilitation, and they are places where juvenile fish and other species hide to grow. Thus, seagrasses contribute to the overall health of the food chain.

Climate change: Seagrasses store carbon in the soil, helping to reduce the effects that climate change has on people and the world. A hectare of seagrass can store as much carbon as a forest with large trees.

Coastal protection: Seagrasses minimize the force of waves and ocean currents during bad weather, thus protecting coasts from erosion. They also play an important role in water filtration and reduce the likelihood of water contamination.

In addition to their importance, seagrasses are globally threatened by human activities such as coastal area pollution, development in coastal areas and at sea, and climate change. It is estimated that more than 30% of the global seagrass area has disappeared since 1930.

World Seagrass Day is an occasion to raise awareness among people about the threats to seagrasses. This way, we face the challenges and take action to protect them. 

How we all can contribute to their well-being and protection is by:

Learning about seagrasses and their importance. Share information with friends, family, and colleagues.

Supporting an organization that works to conserve seagrasses. Make a donation or become a volunteer for a local or international organization dedicated to the protection of seagrasses or related conservation efforts such as turtle conservation.

Choosing sustainably. Reduce your waste, use less water, and support businesses committed to environmental protection. Take examples where sustainable development goals are promoted.

Educating others about the dangers of pollution and excessive development on coastlines. By raising awareness about the impact of our choices, we can contribute to a better future for seagrass habitats and our oceans.

In the design, the species Thalassia testudinum is known in Papiamento as Yerba di Caña and in English as Turtle grass. It gets this name because it is the favorite food of sea turtles. The Directorate of Nature and Environment urges users of the sea to be cautious. For those with boats, this can cause damage due to propellers breaking these plants and sediment upheaval. People also cause damage by unnecessarily uprooting them. The Directorate of Nature and Environment encourages people to observe, take pictures, and share their experiences at sea with others while respecting our protected plants and valuable ecosystems.

Together, we can ensure that seagrasses continue to flourish and continue to provide the various benefits they offer for future generations. The Directorate of Nature and Environment hopes that this press release can help increase awareness of World Seagrass Day 2024 and the need for conservation for the future.