California Sea Grant College Program

On their annual northward migration, tens of thousands of brant geese descend on Humboldt Bay to feed on the long green ends of eelgrass. It might seem grazing could hurt eelgrass, which provides important vegetation and habitat for many marine species. However, this is not the case. California Sea Grant research shows that grazing by geese, at its current intensity level, stimulates eelgrass growth.