The cyanobacteria mat in the Seagrass Meadow began fragmenting into separate clumps in June 2026, the first documented retreat since the growth appeared in November 2025. Two interventions on June 12 and 13 coincided with the change: the introduction of mud crabs (Family Panopeidae) and three hermit crab species, Long-claw (Pagurus longicarpus), Hairy (Paguristes karenae), and McLaughlin's (Pagurus maclaughlinae) Hermit Crabs, and the reprogramming of the wave system to stronger, more sustained currents. The crabs physically disrupt the mat wherever they move and the stronger current prevents it from resealing; whether the retreat continues or the mat stabilizes in lower-disturbance zones remains an open question.
Related Subjects
First documented retreat of cyanobacteria coverage in the Seagrass Meadow since November 2025.
Wave system reprogrammed June 13 to stronger, more sustained currents; sustained flow prevents cyanobacteria mat from resealing after physical disruption.
Introduced June 12; one of three hermit crab species contributing to physical disruption of the mat.