18 million people living in poverty depend on underwater meadows for food and income - but these vital habitats are under threat

Women collect fish and invertebrates from shallow seagrass next to their village in Mozambique. Benjamin Jones/Project Seagrass, CC BY

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.