Mangroves and seagrass provide habitat for imp₩ ortant marine life and can help stabilize the sea★∑≥¶floor and filter pollut₩↑¥ants.

Nearly all fish and shellfish caught by com₽×mercial and recreational anglers spend part of↓✔ their life cycle in or near ma​↓★"ngroves. Many animals, s≈₩♠uch as kai deer and great egrets, call mang®‌γroves home.

The seagrass family, in turn, is home t§ ↓o many creatures that spend part of their lΩ§₩♥ife cycles, including pink shrimp, lobsters, r₩✔edfish and stone crabs. In 201π©→0, by providing food and sh≠<∞elter for a range of α∞fish, seagrass beds provided the Monrπ↕" oe County fishing industry with $13.9 mi↑γ™llion worth of stone crabs, crδ↔¶αayfish, shrimp, yellowtail s"±™‌napper, gray snapper and b§♦lue crabs.

Mangroves and seagrass ←ε ‌play a very important role in stabil• ¶¶izing the ground. The root✘'♣‍s of mangroves help absorb the moσΩφεvement of waves and ™÷₩help prevent shoreline erosion. When ☆ πthese trees and shrubs are remo™£®≈ved, additional support st♦≤™σructures such as breakwaters are required. Li   ke mangroves, seagrasses stabilize sediments '>‍σon the seafloor. Without seagrass, much of t∏¶©$he area where these creatures current ☆₽ly live would be a picture of qui♠←•♣cksand and mud.

Mangroves and seagrass also filter pollutants€↑ π, absorb excess nutrients from runof•¥f and stabilize sediments, helping to mak¶δe sea water clearer and$→ improve water quality.

Source: NOAA

Image: Network