Seaweeds are one of the most ancient forms of life – having developed more than 1bn years ago – and many provide a critical food source for fish and a haven for them to lay their eggs.
For humans, the abundant minerals and anti-inflammatory properties of certain seaweeds have seen their extracts used in medicines from treating acid reflux to wound dressings.
“We really have to look after seaweeds, we really have to love them,” Prof Juliet Brodie, a leading seaweed expert, explains in the vaults of the Natural History Museum surrounded by a collection of seaweed pressings the new species is joining.
Finding a new species, although exciting in itself, plays an important role in keeping an eye on the maerl’s health over time.
“They’re really precious,” she adds. “I’ve often pondered to myself, what would the world be like without seaweeds? You would be taking away your nurseries for some of your economically important fish. But you would also [remove] the immense diversity that makes our world function.”