When people think of important marine ecosystems, they usually think of Coral Reefs. Which is reasonable due to the significant role reefs play in keeping this planet alive and the fact that they get the most media attention compared to other marine ecosystems. But they are not only important for biodiversity. They also have a monetary significance for society, from the fishing industry to groundbreaking discoveries in medicine (Costal Reef Alliance, 4/28/25). But one severely underrated and important ecosystem with huge significance is Salt Marshes.
Salt Marshes are a place where there is a lot of plant and animal biodiversity, and they also provide many ecological services for not just us but for all organisms. They filter pollutants out of the water and trap nutrients within the soil (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee). Many organisms go there to reproduce due to having good protection for their young to hide within the salt grasses, and plenty of food for them. Crabs, Shrimps, and Oysters live and breed there and all three of them are major human resources in both food that we eat and also food that we sell.
On the topic of monetary value salt marshes provide us with many of those types of benefits. They house many of the organisms that are major food sources for humans. But arguably the most important benefit, for some people, is that they provide protection for the coastline and the properties that reside within it. In 2022, there as an estimated $165 Billion in property damages to costal properties due to storms and other ecological disasters (Chandler, MIT News, 10/23/24). Salt marshes act as a buffer for the strong waves that come during strong storms like hurricanes or tropical storms.
As time goes on more and more costal development keeps happening and this important ecosystem keeps getting destroyed. The more that this keeps happening the worse things are going to get not only for the organisms that live within the ecosystem but also for the property owners and fishermen that rely on the organisms within to support themselves and their families.
View of the bridge on the Caher river, as its channels flow through the marsh east of Castlegregory, before it enters Tralee Bay. Image by Maoileann. CC BY-SA 4.0 Wiki Commons
Featured image credits: Trish Hartmann. Wiki Commons
