Seagrass | OMCAR Foundation

SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEMS OF PALK BAY

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that form rich underwater meadows in the shallow coastal waters of Palk Bay. These meadows support marine biodiversity, fisheries and coastal ecosystems.Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar support all 14 seagrass species recorded in India, making this region especially important for seagrass conservation.

WHY SEAGRASS MATTERS

Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services and create feeding, breeding and nursery habitats for many marine species.

STORES CARBON

Seagrass meadows capture and store carbon in their plants and sediments.

SUPPORTS FISHERIES

They provide nursery, feeding and shelter areas for fish and other marine organisms.

SUPPORTS MARINE LIFE

Seagrass meadows provide important feeding and breeding habitats for species such as dugongs and sea turtles.

STABILIZES THE SEAFLOOR

Their roots and rhizomes help hold sediments together and maintain healthy coastal habitats.

THREATS TO SEAGRASS

Seagrass habitats are threatened by destructive fishing practices, pollution, algal blooms, cyclones, diseases and marine heatwaves.

OMCAR'S SEAGRASS CONSERVATION JOURNEY

OMCAR'S SEAGRASS CONSERVATION JOURNEY IN NORTHERN PALK BAY

OMCAR Foundation's seagrass conservation work began with important questions:

How extensive are the seagrass beds of Northern Palk Bay?

At what depths do different seagrass species occur?

How can degraded seagrass beds be restored?

What technology can effectively map submerged seagrass habitats?

These questions led to years of field research, habitat mapping and restoration experiments in Northern Palk Bay.

MAPPING THE SEAGRASS MEADOWS

MAPPING SEAGRASS HABITATS With support from NRDMS, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, OMCAR conducted acoustic surveys combined with georeferenced underwater video observations.

This work provided an important baseline for understanding the distribution and extent of seagrass habitats in Northern Palk Bay.The findings were published in the Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences in 2018 as “Acoustic Survey of Seagrass Beds in Northern Palk Bay, India.”

FROM RESEARCH TO RESTORATION

SEAGRASS REHABILITATION BEGAN (2017)

Building on its research and mapping experience, OMCAR began seagrass rehabilitation in 2017.

Instead of attempting to recreate an entire meadow at once, OMCAR developed a patch-based restoration approach.

Small patches of seagrass are established in suitable degraded areas and protected so that they can survive, expand naturally and gradually connect with neighbouring patches.

HOW WE RESTORE SEAGRASS

HOW WE RESTORE SEAGRASS
This section explains the restoration process from identifying a suitable site to monitoring the growth of restored seagrass.

01 SITE SELECTION:
Ground-truthing is carried out to identify suitable degraded areas where seagrass can be successfully re-established.

02 MARKING THE RESTORATION SITE

The selected rehabilitation area is marked in the sea to define the area for restoration and protection.

03 PROTECTING THE SITE

Temporary net fencing using wooden poles is established around the restoration site to reduce disturbance from fishing activities, particularly drag nets.

04 COLLECTING SEAGRASS SPRIGS

Healthy seagrass sprigs with rhizomes are carefully collected by divers from suitable donor meadows.

05 PREPARING RESTORATION FRAMES

Collected seagrass sprigs are attached to restoration structures.

OMCAR initially used PVC frames and later developed more eco-friendly methods using bamboo frames, jute and coir ropes.

06 DEPLOYING THE FRAMES

Prepared frames are transported to the restoration site, submerged and securely fixed to the seafloor.

07 MONITORING & MAINTENANCE

Restored patches are regularly monitored for survival, growth and expansion, while protective fencing is maintained to minimise disturbance.

RESTORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY

RESTORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY
Community participation is central to OMCAR's seagrass restoration approach.
Local fishing communities participate throughout the restoration process—from preparing restoration materials and establishing protective fencing to transplantation, deployment, maintenance and monitoring.
Their participation also helps protect restoration sites from fishing disturbance and strengthens community stewardship of local seagrass habitats.

LEARNING, IMPROVEMENT & IMPACT

LEARNING AND IMPROVING
OMCAR's field experience showed that protection is as important as transplantation.
Restoration sites affected by fishing disturbance experienced much higher failure, while undisturbed sites recorded approximately:75%SUCCESS IN THE GROWTH OF RESTORED SEAGRASS Field experience also helped improve the restoration method.
EARLY METHOD
PVC FRAMES
PVC frames were initially used for seagrass restoration, but practical limitations were observed, particularly during frame removal.

IMPROVED METHOD

BAMBOO + COIR + JUTE

OMCAR developed low-cost, eco-friendly restoration methods using bamboo frames, coir rope and jute materials.

These experiences were documented in the scientific article “Comparison of seagrass restoration methods adopted in Palk Bay, India.”

FROM SMALL PATCHES TO SEAGRASS MEADOWS
OMCAR's approach allows restored patches to become starting points for natural recovery.
With suitable conditions and continued protection, these patches can expand and gradually connect to form larger seagrass beds.3,800 m²OF DEGRADED SEAGRASS HABITAT RESTORED

ESTABLISH PATCHES. PROTECT THEM FROM DISTURBANCE. ALLOW NATURE TO CONNECT THEM INTO A MEADOW.

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

SEAGRASS RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
OMCAR's seagrass research and field experience have contributed to scientific knowledge on seagrass mapping, distribution and restoration in Palk Bay.