In this blog post, Samuel walks us through the role marram grass plays in coastal ecosystems and highlights efforts to protect and restore this important plant. You’ll also find actionable tips on how to share space with marram grass during your next trip to the beach. Let’s tread carefully into the story of marram grass—the unsung hero holding our dunes together.
If you were around eastern New Brunswick’s beaches in the 2000s, you might have noticed many of these strange, black, four-pointed “cases”, known colloquially as mermaid’s purses. These purses are in fact the discarded egg cases of the various Skates in the surrounding seas.
When we think of beaches, images of paradise and relaxation often come to mind. However, beneath the surface lies a growing threat that endangers wildlife and habitats – abandoned fishing gear. Discarded nets, lines, and traps, collectively known as ghost gear, pose a severe environmental risk, wreaking havoc on coastal and marine ecosystems worldwide. Our Program Manager Lauren Stead shares Nature NB’s efforts to mitigate this issue.
In the fall of 2023, Nature NB embarked on the journey of installing a living shoreline in the Chaleur Region to combat coastal erosion, in collaboration with Birds Canada, Helping Nature Heal, Chaleur Bay Watershed, and Regen Media. However, there was a catch: Bank Swallows in the area relied on the eroding cliff face for nesting. Our Program Manager, Lauren Stead, takes us through a day of hard work on a pilot project that integrates Bank Swallow habitat preservation with living shoreline restoration techniques.
