Record the seaweed you see

You will need

• a Big Seaweed Search guide and recording form

• a pencil

• a phone or camera

How this can help

• Healthy seaweed habitats provide food and shelter for thousands of species, including fish, marine mammals and invertebrates.
  

• Seaweeds help us by absorbing carbon dioxide, using it for photosynthesis, just like plants on land do. In fact, marine photosynthesizers, like phytoplankton and seaweed provide more than half the oxygen in the air we breathe and absorb nearly a third of our carbon emissions. Seaweed also protects our coastlines by breaking the flow of water and helping to prevent coastal erosion.

• The data you collect will enable scientists to monitor changes in important seaweed habitats and take action to protect them and the wildlife that depend on them.

• By taking part in the Big Seaweed Search, you'll also improve your seaweed identification skills. For example, you’ll be more likely to be able to spot non-native species, some of which may be having an impact on coastal areas and the habitats they provide. You will never look at seaweed in the same way again!