Conservation inaction in action for Essex seagrass meadows?

Under Article 6(2) of the European Union Habitats Directive competent authorities are required to take appropriate steps to avoid deterioration and significant disturbance to the qualifying interests of European sites such as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Conservation of seagrass at these sites therefore requires a baseline of the status of the feature, a knowledge of natural cycles, and adequate management of all activities causing adverse impacts. In this study we review the status of seagrass in one UK SAC, the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation as a case study for the sort of information which is urgently required for these important habitats occurring within those areas designed to halt and ideally reverse declines, irrespective of the potential lack of future requirements to report on changes to the European Union.