A century ago, seagrass beds covered hundreds of acres of subtidal flats of Boston Harbor. By the 1980's, these important nursery areas for young fish and shellfish had all but vanished, victims of turbid water, viral diseases, and excessive nutrients.

By the late 1990's, only a few isolated meadows remained. With the reduction in nutrients in the water and the increase in clarity, especially in the South Harbor, we are seeing signs that these necessary habitats have started recolonizing the Harbor floor.