Tunisia is losing seagrass due to pollution and excessive fishing in ocean water. Named Posidonia oceanica after the Greek god of the sea Poseidon, seagrass fills the Mediterranean sea from Cyprus to Spain, absorbing carbon and reducing the acidity of water. It provides shelter to marine animals and protects sea beaches that are central to Tunisia’s tourism from getting eroded.
It is a significant retainer of carbon in seas, Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet) calls it "the lungs" of the sea. In Tunisia, it provides livelihoods to many people as it harbors many fishes and 13% of Tunisia’s GDP comes from fishing. It also helps clean water and makes beaches look beautiful, but excessive cleaning of beaches has played a part in the disappearance of seagrass.
"Posidonia oceanica... is one of the most important sources of oxygen provided to coastal waters," MedWet, a 27-member regional intergovernmental network, says.
"We are helping to make beaches disappear by removing the (seagrass) banks," said Ahmed Ben Hmida, of Tunisia's Coastal Protection and Development Agency.
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