Manx waters researched over four year programme
The Isle of Man is said to be at the 'forefront' of blue carbon research among the British Isles.
That's according to the findings of the Manx Blue Carbon Research Project report over a four year programme.
Blue Carbon is the carbon dioxide captured by the worlds oceans and ecosystems.
The project was led by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, the report sought to understand how seas store carbon, support biodiversity, and provide vital ecosystem services.
Scientists have mapped the habitats across Manx waters which include 50,000 hectares of offshore muddy seabed, 196 hectares of seagrass and 7.4 hectares of coastal wetlands or saltmarsh.
These habitats store an estimated 500,000 tonnes of carbon - equivalent to 1.8 million tonnes of CO₂, or the annual emissions of roughly 390,000 cars.
Two research papers were also published, which reinforced the Isle of Man as a leader in the field.
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