Seagrass Beds
Seagrasses serve as a habitat and shelter for reef animals such as juvenile
conch and lobsters and some fishes. They also provide food for many herbivorous
reef fish and sea turtles. Their interwoven stems and roots serve as filters
for the seawater, trapping and filtering large amounts of fine sediment. They
provide sediment stabilization and seagrasses also help to prevent beach erosion
by slowing down wave action.
Most of St. Maarten's seagrass beds were destroyed by hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in September 1995. The grass beds recovered over time but are under pressure from threats such as dredging, anchoring, nutrient and sediment load and other forms of pollution.
Seagrasses can be found at Simpson Bay, Great Bay, Little Bay and Simpson Bay Lagoon. There are seven types of seagrasses, three of which are found locally: paddle grass, manatee grass and the most common, turtle grass so called because it is the staple diet of the Green sea turtle.