A PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast has identified a previously unrecorded seagrass meadow in Strangford Lough. Rebekah Bajkó spotted the habitat in the Narrows at Granagh Bay through data from DAERA’s Coastal Observatory.

The meadow consists of Zostera marina, known as eelgrass. It marks the first such recording within the Strangford Lough Marine Conservation Zone in County Down. A local diving club confirmed the find on site.

Marine biologist Bernard Picton recorded video footage during the dive. Dr Christine Morrow analysed the footage as part of DAERA’s Environment Funded Queen’s Marine Biodiversity Data Portal NI project.

DAERA verified the discovery. Seagrass meadows store carbon and support marine biodiversity.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir commended Bajkó and the team. He noted the Coastal Observatory’s role in identifying areas for investigation and conservation. The find aids Northern Ireland’s Blue Carbon Action Plan for 2025-2030.

Bajkó expressed delight at the contribution and the enabling role of available technologies.

Footage of the meadow appeared in a BBC Winterwatch segment on brent geese at Strangford Lough.