Different species of seagrass are found in temperate and tropical waters. They support a highly diverse and productive ecosystem, sheltering many other organisms
Beds of seagrass reduce water currents, thereby increasing sedimentation, while the root structures stabilise the seabed, protecting coastal zones from erosion. Floating oil is most likely to pass over seagrass beds with no ill effects. However, if oil or its toxic components become mixed into these shallow inshore waters at sufficiently high concentrations, seagrass and associated organisms may be impacted. Clean-up operations in the vicinity of seagrass should be undertaken with care, as the plants can be torn or pulled out by vessel propellers and boom anchors.