Eelgrass
Zostera marina
Zostera marina is a flowering vascular plant species as one of many kinds of seagrass, with this species known primarily by the English name of eelgrass with seawrack much less used, and refers to the plant after breaking loose from the submerged wetland soil, and drifting free with ocean current and waves to a coast seashore. It is a saline soft-sediment submerged plant native to marine environments on the coastlines of northern latitudes from subtropical to subpolar regions of North America and Eurasia.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zostera_marina
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Alismatales
Family
Zosteraceae
Genus
Zostera
Eelgrass belongs to the family Zosteraceae, order Alismatales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Zostera marina is a flowering vascular plant species as one of many kinds of seagrass, with this species known primarily by the English name of eelgrass with seawrack much less used, and refers to the plant after breaking loose from the submerged wetland soil, and drifting free with ocean current and waves to a coast seashore. It is a saline soft-sediment submerged plant native to marine environments on the coastlines of northern latitudes from subtropical to subpolar regions of North America and Eurasia.
Eelgrass faces significant threats from coastal development, water pollution, and climate change impacts that degrade its shallow marine habitats. Eutrophication from agricultural and urban runoff causes algal blooms that block sunlight essential for photosynthesis, while rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification further stress these critical seagrass ecosystems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and protected bays with sandy or muddy substrates, typically in depths of 0.5-4 meters where sufficient sunlight penetrates for photosynthesis. Forms extensive underwater meadows in temperate and subarctic marine environments along coastlines.
Threats
Climate change and ocean warming
Coastal development and habitat destruction
Eutrophication and water pollution
Physical disturbance from boating and dredging
Sedimentation and reduced water clarity
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Eelgrass (Zostera marina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/eelgrass