BEAT: Saving Our Oceans One Eelgrass Shoot at a Time

Have you ever spent two hours tying metal washers to the bottom of seaweed? Or wonder why or how this would even make a positive difference? Well, the Brentwood Environmental Action Team did just that, and, partnered with the Non-Governmental Organization, Sea Change, Brentwood students were able to help rebuild our eelgrass ecosystems in Mill Bay. On a lovely sunny afternoon we sat out on our spectacular waterfront and worked together to tie nearly 800 washers on freshly harvested eelgrass shoots. Eelgrass is the main type of seaweed living on the ocean floor in estuaries, like the ocean just beyond our classroom doors. Eelgrass is essential for the lifecycle of fish coming out of rivers, and serves as a place for the baby fish to grow and hide from predators. It also creates an underwater meadow for hundreds of aquatic organisms to live and be safe in.  So what is the process?  Sea Change sends divers out to harvest healthy eelgrass shoots, and bring them back by boat to our waterfront. There, Sea Change and Brentwood student volunteers tie on heavy metal washers to the roots of the eelgrass shoots. This will help the eelgrass shoots become embedded in the sea floor more solidly and therefore they can grow and flourish more efficiently! This counters the damage done by heavy boat traffic, storms, and other environmental factors.  BEAT wants to thanks Sea Change for coming to Brentwood and letting us volunteer with you, and to the students who came out to tie the washers on shoots! This will help our local ecosystem grow and, ultimately, help nurture our ocean’s sustainability. Gina B, Mack ‘17