The UK will become the first nation to produce a complete map of its blue carbon stores, thanks to a new, pioneering project, the Scottish association for Marine Science (SAMS) has announced:

The Blue Carbon Mapping project – led by SAMS and funded by WWF-UK in collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB – builds on the blue carbon mapping that began in Scotland. The final report will be produced by the summer of 2023, with initial findings expected later this year.

There is currently limited information about how much carbon is stored in and sequestered by UK marine habitats such as saltmarsh, seagrass beds, kelp forest, biogenic reefs, and marine sediments. The project aims to address this scientific blind spot, paving the way for better understanding and protection of the UK’s blue carbon habitats. Scientists will assess the carbon storage and sequestration potential of all UK seas, as well as within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

With two-thirds of the UK underwater, the study will be critical in helping the UK achieve its commitments to achieving net-zero and to protect at least 30% of UK seas for nature by 2030.

Understanding and mapping blue carbon stores will allow UK Governments to plan and prioritise how we use our marine environments in the future. This includes exploring the impacts of human activities on blue carbon stores.

Currently, natural marine carbon stores are thought to be vulnerable to various pressures which can cause them to be disturbed, damaged, or removed entirely. They include bottom-towed fishing gear – used by certain fishing activities such as the scallop industry – and developments at sea and along our coasts – such as offshore energy.

The project follows a pilot study in the North Sea that was published last year and revealed just how important protecting UK seas are for tackling climate change. The report found:

Carbon stores in the English North Sea amount to nearly 20% of that held in UK forests and woodlands

98% of the total organic carbon is stored in seabed sediments like sand and mud

Seabed sediments are thus by far the most important habitat for carbon storage in this region.

The UK Blue Carbon Mapping project will complete essential research in three regional phases – English Channel/Western Approaches, Irish Sea and Scotland (with the North Sea assessment completed and published last year) – before combining these into a UK summary next year.

A news story in the Independent can be read here. Press releases from WWF, Wildlife Trusts and SAMS can be read by following the links.