San Diego Bay is often associated with its visible attractions: Navy carriers, bustling shipyards, and picturesque waterfronts. However, a vital component of the bay’s ecological health lies hidden beneath the surface.
Frank Ursitti, a managing partner at H&M Landing in Point Loma, highlights the significance of preserving this delicate ecosystem. “Here in San Diego Bay, I believe we have one of the healthiest bays up and down the coast,” Ursitti noted. This observation is crucial not only for the local fishing industry but also for recreational anglers and the aquatic life they pursue.
Central to the bay’s health is the eelgrass ecosystem, described by marine biologist Jessica Curran from Navy Regions Southwest as a critical element in maintaining the bay’s balance. Eelgrass thrives at various depths, typically reaching 12 feet below the surface, though it has been discovered at depths of up to 20 feet. Curran remarked, “Healthy eelgrass ecosystem creates a healthy bay ecosystem.”
Eelgrass serves multiple functions, acting as a foundation for the marine food chain and playing a role in water filtration and carbon absorption. As Eileen Maher, Director of Environmental Conservation for the Port of San Diego, stated, “It’s the base of the food chain for San Diego Bay.”
Both the United States Navy and the Port of San Diego have dedicated efforts toward monitoring and expanding eelgrass habitats since the 1990s. This initiative is part of the San Diego Bay Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, which outlines collectively managed strategies for preserving the bay’s resources.
Curran explained how the Navy’s commitment to protecting eelgrass complements its military missions while promoting environmental stewardship. Similarly, Maher emphasized the Port’s dedication to preserving the bay’s ecology alongside commercial, recreational, and navigational needs. “Our Tidelands Trust requires us to balance commerce, recreation, fisheries, navigation, and environmental stewardship,” she explained.
Remarkably, San Diego Bay encompasses 2,600 acres of eelgrass, accounting for 50% of the eelgrass found in Southern California and 17% in the entire state. Maher revealed that these eelgrass beds have a tremendous capacity for carbon storage, sequestering around 1.7 million metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the annual emissions from almost 370,000 cars. “So it takes those impacts away from the atmosphere and puts it into the base sediments,” Maher articulated.
As the organizations work to enhance eelgrass habitats, they recognize the importance of older beds, which sequester even more carbon while providing essential sunlight for photosynthesis. Maher emphasized that these habitats are crucial not only for eelgrass health but also for the overall ecosystem.
To safeguard these vital plants, monitoring efforts are in place to track eelgrass growth and its response to environmental changes. Curran spoke of the agency’s dedication to mapping eelgrass locations and monitoring its changes over time. This data aids in planning military training exercises and construction projects, allowing them to minimize any adverse effects on eelgrass habitats.
As monitoring efforts progress, the success of these initiatives is becoming more apparent. Curran expressed excitement over recent surveys indicating an expansion of eelgrass into previously unoccupied areas. “It’s been really cool over the last couple years that we’ve done the eelgrass surveys, that we’ve seen it really go into these places it’s never gone before,” she shared.
The collaborative efforts of the U.S. Navy and the Port of San Diego underscore the critical role that eelgrass plays beneath the waves of San Diego Bay. Through ongoing conservation efforts, they strive to ensure that this hidden ecosystem continues to thrive, supporting marine life and contributing to the overall health of the bay.
Recognizing the intertwined relationship between the bay’s ecology and the economic activities dependent on it is essential for the future of San Diego’s coastal beauty.
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