Joel James MS has this week highlighted a visit he made to The National Marine Aquarium- the UK’s largest aquarium, located in Plymouth, which is also the home of the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the Ocean.
As the Senedd's Species Champion for Seagrass, Joel has been dedicated to raising awareness of Seagrass, its benefits and the obstacles the industry faces across Wales and the UK.
During the visit, Joel heard about the Natural England-led EU LIFE Recreational ReMEDIES Project and seagrass restoration efforts. The Member was also given a tour of the Ocean Conservation Trust seagrass lab, which is being used for growing seagrass with the hope it will eventually allow seagrass to be deployed in the field.
Speaking about the visit, Joel said:
Last year, I was delighted to visit the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.
In my role as the Welsh Parliament's Species Champion for Seagrass, I met Mark and Amelie of the Ocean Conservation Trust, who have been working on the Remedies seagrass restoration project - a five year programme, looking to save and restore seagrass beds in Southern England.
Seagrass is a vital part of our marine habitat, helping to reduce coastal erosion, provide breeding grounds for marine animals, and has a huge potential for carbon capture, but sadly, 92% of the UK’s seagrass has been lost since the Second World War.
