Article Reference: Why Florida’s massive seagrass loss is so devastating

By Ben Montgomery for Axios

Ground zero: Indian River Lagoon has lost 58% of its seagrass area since 2009, more than 46,000 acres. And more than 300 manatees have been reported dead in Brevard County — a third of all deaths.

Closer to home: In just two years, Charlotte Harbor lost three decades worth of grass grow-back, more than 4,500 acres.

By the numbers: Researchers say more than 2.5 million acres of seagrass remain in Florida’s nearshore waters, which provide so-called “ecological services” worth more than $20 billion a year.

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