The significant role seagrass meadows play in supporting fisheries productivity and food security across the globe is not adequately reflected in the decisions made by authorities with statutory responsibility for their management. We provide a unique global analysis of three data sources to present the case for why seagrass meadows need targeted policy to recognize and protect their role in supporting fisheries production and food security. (1) Seagrass meadows provide valuable nursery habitat to over 1/5th of the world's largest 25 fisheries, including Walleye Pollock, the most landed species on the planet. (2) In complex small‐scale fisheries from around the world (poorly represented in fisheries statistics), we present evidence that many of those in proximity to seagrass are supported to a large degree by these habitats. (3) We reveal how intertidal fishing activity in seagrass is a global phenomenon, often directly supporting human livelihoods. Our study demonstrates that seagrasses should be recognized and managed to maintain and maximize their role in global fisheries production. The chasm that exists between coastal habitat conservation and fisheries management needs to be filled to maximize the chances of seagrass meadows supporting fisheries, so that they can continue to support human wellbeing.

中文翻译：

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海草草甸支持全球渔业生产

负有管理法定责任的当局做出的决定并未充分反映出海草草地在支持全球渔业生产力和粮食安全方面发挥的重要作用。我们对三个数据源进行了独特的全球分析，以说明为什么海草草甸需要有针对性的政策来认识和保护其在支持渔业生产和粮食安全中的作用。（1）海草草甸为全球最大的25个渔业中的1/5以上提供了宝贵的苗圃栖息地，其中包括世界上登陆最多的物种Walleye Pollock。（2）在来自世界各地的复杂小型渔业中（在渔业统计中代表性很差），我们提供的证据表明，这些生境在很大程度上支持了许多靠近海草的地方。（3）我们揭示了海草中的潮间带捕捞活动是一种全球现象，通常直接支持人类的生计。我们的研究表明，应认识和管理海草，以维持并最大程度地发挥其在全球渔业生产中的作用。需要填补沿海栖息地保护和渔业管理之间的鸿沟，以最大程度地提高海草草甸支持渔业的机会，以便它们能够继续支持人类福祉。