Devon bodyboards repurposed for seagrass habitat surveys

The Environment Agency is repurposing discarded bodyboards collected from recycling centres in Devon to assist in scientific surveys of intertidal mudflats. The initiative aims to protect seagrass meadows, which are critical coastal habitats that provide breeding grounds for marine species and help reduce coastal erosion.

Collected by SUEZ, the operator for Devon County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, the boards provide a stable surface for researchers to rest on and transport equipment through challenging, soft mud conditions. Paul Elsmere, an Environmental Monitoring Officer for the Environment Agency, noted that the boards help researchers manoeuvre through difficult terrain.

The project is a collaborative effort between Devon County Council, SUEZ, and the Environment Agency, serving as an example of the circular economy by reducing waste and lowering costs for conservation research.