Fifty scientists from 17 countries, including researchers from CEAB-CSIC, have reached a consensus on a document aimed at policymakers, managers and civil society that brings together the leading scientific recommendations for protecting, monitoring and restoring seagrass meadows across Europe.
The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance (ESRA) has published the European Seagrass Recommendations 2026, the first continent-wide scientific consensus on how to protect, monitor and restore seagrass meadows throughout Europe.
Prepared jointly by more than 50 scientists from 17 European countries, the document sets out eight key recommendations designed to guide policymakers, managers and funders in restoring these ecosystems after decades of decline. Among the contributors are Nicole Foster and Oscar Serrano, researchers at CEAB-CSIC, who actively participated as members of the author and review team.
Seagrass meadows are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet. They support coastal fisheries, protect beaches from erosion and flooding, filter water and store vast amounts of carbon. However, poor water quality, coastal development, disease, invasive species, climate change and unsustainable human activities have dramatically reduced their extent across Europe. Despite their immense ecological and social value, seagrass meadows still lack the protection and funding they require.
“We already have a strong scientific foundation and growing experience in seagrass restoration across Europe,” said Oscar Serrano, researcher in the GAME group at CEAB-CSIC. “The challenge now is to translate this scientific knowledge into coordinated action supported by appropriate policy frameworks and long-term investment. These recommendations provide a robust, evidence-based roadmap for moving forward.”
The eight principles
The ESRA document summarises its main recommendations in eight points:
- Protect existing seagrass meadows.
- Reduce pressures as a priority.
- Identify the historical, current and potential distribution of seagrass meadows to guide restoration.
- Long-term monitoring is essential for adaptive management.
- Develop evidence-based approaches and promote the ethical sharing of knowledge.
- Build human capacity.
- Align governance, policy and funding mechanisms with restoration science.
- Develop and optimise resilient supply chains for transplant material.
The publication of the European Seagrass Recommendations will help facilitate implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law, although the recommendations are equally applicable beyond EU Member States. They cover the full restoration continuum, from protecting existing meadows and reducing human pressures to large-scale active planting, long-term monitoring and the development of sustainable donor material supply chains. They also advocate closer alignment between European environmental policy and restoration practice, streamlined permitting procedures and a substantial increase in long-term funding. The document further highlights the importance of local engagement, ethical standards and open access to data.
“Individually we can achieve very little, but together we can accomplish a great deal,” said Richard Lilley, President of the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance. “By fostering values-based interdisciplinary collaboration, ESRA is helping establish a common language between science and policy. These recommendations strengthen the growing awareness and capacity of stakeholders to restore seagrass meadows effectively and responsibly.”
The recommendations were developed following the Second European Seagrass Restoration Workshop, held in April 2025 and organised by the French Biodiversity Office at the Arcachon Basin Marine Natural Park (France), and were finalised in February 2026 following a dedicated meeting organised by the University of Groningen in Schiermonnikoog (the Netherlands). They are also aligned with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“Seagrass restoration in Europe has evolved from an aspiration into a genuine opportunity. This consensus reflects the collective effort of the scientific community and provides a solid foundation for turning knowledge into effective action on the ground,” said Nicole Foster, researcher in the GAME group at CEAB-CSIC.
About ESRA
The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance (ESRA) is a collaborative platform that connects research with large-scale restoration practice. It provides a space for the European seagrass restoration community to collaborate and exchange knowledge.
The European Seagrass Recommendations 2026 are openly available at DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20055164.
