SEAGRASS BEDS
Seagrass beds are areas of submerged plants found growing in bays,
lagoons, and shallow coastal waters.
These plants anchor to the bottom
with a rugged root structure allowing
them to withstand strong currents
and waves, and act as an excellent
buffer during extreme storm events.
Seagrass can be found as far north
as Alaska and well into the tropics
to the equator. They’re considered
the foundation of many coastal ecosystems, providing essential habitat
and nursery areas for several species of fish. Between 70 and 90 percent of commercial fish spend part
of their life in a seagrass habitat.
DEEP BOULDER REEFS
Deep boulder reefs off the Massachusetts and Maine coasts disprove the theory that the
sea floor in colder northern waters is barren and brown. The Gulf of Maine is known for
its colorful anemone and sea stars, in addition to lobster. While these underwater rocky
habitats are not well mapped, they exist throughout much of the Northeast. Deep rocky
habitats are more likely to be inhabited by invertebrates such as horse mussels, sponges,
sea cucumbers, and anemones as opposed to kelp. These ecosystems are also home to
popular fish species such as cod. Don’t anchor amid rocks or boulders. Better to bring
your dinghy, snorkel, mask, and flippers over for a closer look at this beautiful ecosystem.
