Why are estuaries important?
Estuaries are vital habitats for thousands of marine species. Estuaries have been called the “nurseries of the sea” because the protected environment and abundant food provide an ideal location for fish and shellfish to reproduce. Most commercially important fish species spend some part of their life cycle in estuaries. Besides fish, many species of birds depend on estuaries for food and nesting areas. Migratory birds use estuaries as stopover points for resting and feeding before continuing their journey. Marine mammals also use estuaries as feeding grounds and nurseries. All these marine organisms feed in estuaries because a healthy estuary produces between 4 and 10 times as much organic matter as a cornfield of the same size. Estuaries provide a wide range of habitats leading to a great diversity of marine life. Estuaries are important for the health of the oceans. Estuaries can filter sediment and pollutants from the water before it flows into the oceans. Excess nutrients are remov
