NESP MaC Project 1.8 - Including sediment processes in restoration strategies for Australian seagrass ecosystems (UNSW)

Research Project

Researchers: Gribben, Paul (Point of contact, principalInvestigator, Principal investigator) ,  Emma Flukes (Point of contact) ,  Ezequiel Marzinelli (collaborator) ,  Head of School Gary Kendrick (collaborator) ,  Head of School Gary Kendrick (collaborator)
View all 11 related researchers

Brief description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub small-scale study - "A national framework for improving seagrass restoration". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Seagrasses provide resources and ecosystem services critical to the health of coastal ecosystems and human populations. They increase water clarity, stabilise sediments and reduce coastal erosion, sequester carbon, and provide habitat and food to marine animals, including commercially important fish and invertebrates. Across Australia, the loss of >275,000 ha of seagrass meadows and associated ecosystem services—valued at AU$ 5.3 billion—has contributed to the long-term degradation of estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems. Restoration of seagrass is critical for improving the health and function of these ecosystems and sustaining coastal communities and industries that depend on them, yet restoration projects to date typically occur at small scales, driven by local priorities and with variable success. This project addressed this problem by bringing together scientists and key stakeholders to collate knowledge on seagrass ecology and restoration, and generated a framework to scaling-up restoration nationally. A national workshop with experts identified a shortlist of drivers key to restoration success, including sediment dynamics, microbial communities, hydrodynamics, and species interactions. It highlighted the importance of incorporating seagrass genetics and life histories into site and donor material selection to improve long-term resilience. New technologies such as eDNA, automation, and AI were also assessed for their potential to improve monitoring and reduce costs, while standardised methodologies and molecular tools were recommended to track microbial indicators and site suitability. A key insight from the workshop was the central role of sediment processes in feedback loops that determine seagrass health—providing a foundation for more effective, scalable restoration strategies. On-ground case studies were conducted in Western Australia and New South Wales to test the proposed restoration framework in collaboration with Indigenous and community partners: sediment quality assessment and manipulation (Gamay Rangers, UNSW); seed and seedling capture using sediment-filled hessian tubes (Malgana Rangers, UWA); and large-scale seed collection for seed-based restoration through the 'Seeds for Snapper' initiative (OzFish and UWA). These trials demonstrated the effectiveness of community-led restoration and reinforced the potential of seed-based methods for scaling up seagrass recovery. Outputs • Effect of sediment quality and manipulation on seagrass transplant success [field data] • Locations and health of beachcast fragments of Posidonia in Botany Bay [field data] • Effect of engineering hydrodynamics (by use of hessian socks) on seagrass transplant success [field data] • Final project report [written]

Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Notes Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government

Notes Credit
In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Notes Purpose
This project aims to generate a national experimental framework for seagrass restoration and act as a bridging project for ongoing seagrass restoration with indigenous and community groups. This project expects to enhance restoration success for seagrasses by incorporating key ecological knowledge gaps (such as below-ground soil processes) into restoration strategies. This project should provide significant benefits, such as ‘road-map’ for increasing restoration success, and the development of key strategic alliances to enhance restoration and management of seagrasses, and the ecosystem services, and economic and social benefits they provide.

Data time period: 2021-09-01 to 2022-03-31

151.2735,-33.928 151.2735,-34.0544 151.1099,-34.0544 151.1099,-33.928 151.2735,-33.928

151.1917,-33.9912

114.4347,-24.5763 114.4347,-26.7137 112.7425,-26.7137 112.7425,-24.5763 114.4347,-24.5763

113.5886,-25.645

115.7735,-32.1037 115.7735,-32.1568 115.7343,-32.1568 115.7343,-32.1037 115.7735,-32.1037

115.7539,-32.13025

text: westlimit=151.1099; southlimit=-34.0544; eastlimit=151.2735; northlimit=-33.928

text: westlimit=112.7425; southlimit=-26.7137; eastlimit=114.4347; northlimit=-24.5763

text: westlimit=115.7343; southlimit=-32.1568; eastlimit=115.7735; northlimit=-32.1037