Highland Council hopeful says seaweed could be help bring a greener future
A POLITICAL hopeful believes the sea bed is key to a greener future.
Sarah Fanet, who is standing in the Fort William and Ardnamurchan by election for Highland Council, has spoken out on eco issues.
She said: “The seabed represents 40 per cent of Scottish land, but only one per cent of the population gets to see it.
“There should be more mention of an incredible tool against climate change: seagrass.
“Seagrass has the ability to sequester carbon up to 35 times faster than the rain forest but sadly 90 per cent of seagrass has disappeared from our waters over the last 100 years because of human activity.
“There is a project in Loch Craignish in Argyll involving local residents, run by Seawilding, a charity working with communities to restore degraded inshore marine habitats.
“A one-mile-long meadow of Zostera Marina can be seen in very shallow water.
“That giant patch of seagrass has been restored involving the local community, families, snorkellers and divers. The seagrass now needs to spread along our coasts.
“It will benefit biodiversity, local communities and local fishery.
“It could create jobs and recreational activities for local people and make Highlands part of the fight against climate change.”
