Marine heatwave in Shetland waters threatens kelp forests and blue carbon storage

The National Oceanography Centre has confirmed a marine heatwave has moved into Shetland waters, with sea temperatures rising 1-3C above average. Category 1-2 conditions are now affecting the entire Scottish coastline, posing a serious threat to kelp forests and seagrass meadows that store significant amounts of blue carbon. A single hectare of seagrass can store as much carbon as eight hectares of sandy seabed or twice that of a land forest. Researchers warn that if these ecosystems become stressed, they may struggle to grow or die, reducing their capacity to absorb carbon. The heatwave follows a broader warming trend linked to El Nino, and scientists caution that such temperature anomalies could become the new normal. The findings highlight the vulnerability of marine carbon sinks to climate change and the need to protect them as part of decarbonization strategies.