Seagrasses of Southwest Australia

Southwest Australia has warm temperate water with a mixture of tropical influences from the Leeuwin Current and cool southern waters. This mixing of tropical and temperate water results in diverse seagrass communities occurring in a wide variety of coastal habitats. Almost half of the world's ~60 seagrass species can be found along this 1,500 km of coast. Seagrasses are important to the marine environment as they stabilise sediments and trap nutrients, helping to maintain water quality. They provide key nursery habitats for invertebrates and fishes, including commercially important species. Southwest Australian seagrass meadows are unique and are both regionally and globally significant.

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