why are estuaries called nurseries of the sea
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.