Seagrass mapping to assess natural stocks of blue carbon (SEAMANS_Carbon)

Funder: Marine Institute and Department of Foreign Aid

Project Team

• Dr Ger Summers (Post-doctoral Researcher)
• Dr Aaron Lim (PI)
• Mr Antonio Cano (Co-PI)
• Dr Stacey Felgate (Co-PI)
• Dr David Price (Co-PI)

SEAMANS_Carbon is an integrated mapping and monitoring research program between Irish and Belizean partners to help assess the current state of blue carbon in Belize while providing management-informing data. The project uses multispectral UAV data to map the distribution of Belizean blue carbon habitats as well as retrieve and analyse sediment cores from these areas to make an assessment on their carbon stock. We assess one of their most widely-used fishing methods (‘shades’) to determine its impact on blue carbon stock and provide an insight to how the practice may be refined to have less impact on the sequestration of carbon. On a broader scale, this project aims to develop new methods for the assessment of blue carbon, provide trial data to on-going blue carbon projects (in Ireland and Belize) while fostering new collaboration between Ireland and Belize that would not otherwise be possible. The methods developed herein can subsequently be implemented in blue carbon ecosystems globally.

The project has 5 main objectives:

1: Build joint capacity in Irish and Belizean marine science and blue carbon initiatives through collaboration, workshops, knowledge creation, and knowledge exchange;

2: Acquire novel remote sensing and ground truth data from strategic locations in Belize and Ireland.

3: Quantify carbon storage and sequestration within seagrass meadows in Belize and Ireland, adding to and improving existing estimates of national Blue Carbon inventories.

4: Improve existing methodologies to increase habitat map accuracy and incorporate fine- and multi-scale variation into modelling efforts.

5: Produce management-ready data on the impact of lobster fishing practices on seagrass cover and the underlying carbon stock.

The SEAMANS_Carbon team meeting with the President of the University of Belize. L to R Dr David Price, Dr Stacey Felgate, Dr Vincent Palacio, Dr Gerard Summers, and Mr Antonio Cano. Photo Credit: Gerard Summers.

Our Shared Ocean

This research is funded under the Our Shared Ocean programme. 

Ireland has established Our Shared Ocean (OSO) a multi-annual programme to support research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It reflects our commitment to delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the commitments on climate and oceans in A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, and to building closer ties with SIDS through our Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States. Our Shared Ocean is part of Ireland’s response to the challenges facing many SIDS, recognising that our fellow islanders are on the front line of the impact of climate change and vulnerable, in particular, to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. It also recognises the important role of SIDS in relation to global ocean governance and their capacity to develop innovative responses to these challenges. The programme is funded through Irish Aid, Ireland’s programme for overseas development, and is managed by Ireland’s Marine Institute. The OSO programme is managed by David O' Sullivan.