Seagrass

Seagrasses are marine plants with the same basic structure as land plants in that they have root systems and produce flowers. They grow in shallow coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms and low wave energy – all characteristics of Shark Bay.

Twelve of the world’s 60 species of seagrass are found in Shark Bay, with wireweed (Amphibolis antarctica) and ribbonweed (Posidonia australis) being the two most common.

With about 4000 square kilometres of sea floor colonised by seagrass, the seagrass banks of Shark Bay are the biggest in the world. Many species depend on seagrass, including a large dugong population that moves between different meadows during the year.

Find out more about the seagrass species in Shark Bay below, or on our Fact Sheets & Guides page.