Marine Restoration Group
Dr Annika Clements
The Marine Restoration Group, led by Annika, is based in QML Portaferry and the School of Biological Sciences, ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ
With over 20 years’ experience across a range of sectors in applied marine science, Annika specialises in benthic ecology, habitat mapping, and habitat suitability modelling. She has a particular interest in marine policy, nature-based solutions, interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and restoration science. Annika has recently established a marine restoration group which focuses on key habitats including biogenic reefs and seagrass meadows. The group works closely with local restoration practitioners including the eNGO Ulster Wildlife to ensure conservation and real-world application remain at the forefront of the research.
You can keep up to date with our latest publications below:
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McIlvenny et al. 2026: Revised nitrogen benchmarks identify a critical transition zone in seagrass meadow degradation
Abstract
Seagrass meadows support biodiversity, coastal protection and blue carbon services but are declining globally, with nutrient enrichment a pervasive driver of eutrophication. Effective management depends on detecting eutrophication before structural collapse occurs, yet widely used tissue nitrogen (N) benchmarks for seagrasses have never been formally validated. We assessed nutrient exposure and ecological condition across nine seagrass meadows in Northern Ireland using tissue carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content, stoichiometric ratios and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N), and tested how tissue nitrogen relates to Zostera marina biomass at Northern Hemisphere scale by integrating regional, UK and global datasets.All Northern Ireland meadows exceeded the global 1.8% tissue nitrogen benchmark, indicating pervasive anthropogenic nitrogen exposure even within Marine Protected Areas. The combined datasets revealed a strong, nonlinear decline in Z. marina biomass with increasing tissue nitrogen that was consistent across sites. Biomass began to decline significantly above 1.8% N, identifying this value as the onset of functional degradation. The rate of biomass loss increased rapidly with further enrichment and peaked at 2.8% N, defining a critical point at which additional nitrogen causes the greatest marginal loss of seagrass biomass.These results provide quantitative support for existing tissue nitrogen benchmarks and refine their ecological interpretation, highlighting 1.8% N as an early-warning threshold and 2.8% N as a high-risk range for rapid biomass loss. Tissue nitrogen therefore represents a integrative, biologically meaningful indicator of eutrophic stress applicable for management and restoration prioritisation in seagrass ecosystems - Bajkó et al. 2025: Coastal roots: the history of seagrass in Northern Ireland
Abstract
A considerable knowledge gap exists in relation to the presence and even existence of seagrass within Northern Ireland’s waters. Peer-reviewed publications on the historical ecology of seagrass are scarce and a collated timeline of references directly focusing on Northern Irish seagrasses does not exist. Recognising abiotic and biotic induced environmental change within key marine features such as seagrass is vital when attempting to measure the biodiversity and carbon sequestration services they provide. The research undertaken during this study identified three distinct periods within the archival records, which could be matched to the ecological history of seagrass in Northern Ireland. The first period (extensive and dense seagrass meadows from 1790 to 1880) was characterised by extensive seagrass meadows which were dense and healthy. The second period (degradation from 1880 to 1940) saw the beginnings of decline in seagrass from the 1790s, initially from anthropogenic influences and later from the seagrass wasting disease) and the final period (signs of recovery from 1940 to present day) showed small amounts of local regrowth of seagrass but at far reduced densities compared to the historical baseline described. These three defined periods all delivered varying degrees of anthropogenic stressors which determined the conservational health of seagrass in Northern Ireland. Seagrass habitats have become integral components in future-proofing the coastal marine environment against the effects of climate change and its associated impacts. Therefore, it is envisaged that the historical baseline that this manuscript provides will greatly benefit habitat managers in protecting, repairing, and restoring lost seagrass meadows.
The Marine Research Group response to the proposed Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland - March 2026
In summary, the Nature Recovery Strategy lacks sufficient clarity, ambition, and enforceability to deliver meaningful biodiversity recovery. In our response, we emphasis that the five Strategic Objectives are scientifically sound, but must be treated as an integrated package and strengthened with clear, quantified, outcome-focused targets, particularly aligned with “30 by 30” commitments for protection and restoration. We need to shift process-based actions to measurable ecological outcomes, ensuring policies directly contribute to halting biodiversity loss. What's missing from the strategy is emphasis on critically important marine environments, blue carbon habitats, water quality, and invasive species management. Northern Ireland needs scaled-up, long-term marine restoration, including the creation of a coordinated restoration pipeline and sustained funding. Importantly, we believe that NI needs evidence-led decision-making, open data access, and improved monitoring, alongside greater recognition of the social dimension of nature recovery.
You can find our response in full here: MRG Response to NRS
