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Context

A recent research highlights global decline of seagrass meadows emphasizing their role in carbon sequestration & marine biodiversity while underscoring Indian efforts in seagrass conservation, ongoing restoration initiatives & need for stricter enforcement of protection laws for climate action & biodiversity conservation.

Key Highlights

Global Seagrass Decline: Seagrass meadows are globally declining at a rate of 1-2% per year over the past century with nearly 5% of species now endangered primarily due to human activities.

Seagrass' Role in Climate Action: Seagrass meadows store carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests playing role in climate change mitigation by sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide & sustaining coastal ecosystems.

India's Seagrass Ecosystems:

India coastline spans approximately 11,098 km (48% increase from previous measurements) but accounts for less than 0.25% of world total coastline.

Approximately 10% of world coastal population lives along India shores emphasizing the importance of its seagrass meadows.

Seagrass meadows in India are found primarily in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Gulf of Kutch.

16 species of seagrass are found in Indian waters with major concentrations in the southern and western coastal regions.

Carbon Sequestration in India:

India seagrass covers approximately 516.59 square kilometers with ability to absorb 434.9 tonnes of CO2 per square kilometer per year.

The seagrass meadows contribute significantly to climate action by capturing carbon although this contribution is often overlooked compared to more popular blue carbon initiatives.

Biodiversity of Seagrass Meadows:

Seagrass meadows in India support about 1,250 species of marine flora & fauna including endangered species like dugong & green turtles.

These meadows are also critical for marine life providing nurseries for fish, turtles, dugongs & contribute to 20% of global fishery landings.

Threats to Seagrass Meadows:

Seagrass ecosystems face threats from pollution, coastal development & tourism particularly from agriculture runoff and urban waste.

A study in 2024 by Balaji Vedharajan found that 54% of Tamil Nadu’s Manora coast is open seafloor with no seagrass cover highlighting an opportunity for seagrass restoration.

Restoration Efforts:

India's restoration efforts have been noteworthy. Between 2011 and 2020 14 acres of degraded seagrass were restored in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay with a success rate of 85-90%.

Community-based restoration efforts by the Organization for Marine Conservation, Awareness & Research (OMCAR) have been underway in Palk Bay using eco-friendly methods like bamboo frames & coconut rope to transplant seagrass sprigs.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):

23.9% of known seagrass areas are in marine protected zones globally offering protection from overfishing and habitat degradation.

Expanding MPAs and stricter enforcement of marine protection laws are essential to safeguard seagrass meadows and their associated biodiversity.

Policy and Research:

India’s coastal and marine protection policies like Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and National Marine Fisheries Policy focus on marine ecosystem conservation.

Recommendations:

There is an urgent need to scale up restoration efforts with a focus on scientific research, community participation, policy enforcement.

Strengthening coastal protection laws expanding marine protected areas & addressing pollution will be critical in halting the loss of seagrass meadows.

Global Context and Success Stories:

Around 2,000 restoration projects are ongoing globally with notable success stories like the restoration of 1,700 hectares of Zostera marina in Virginia, USA.

India can draw lessons from such projects to accelerate seagrass recovery and better integrate seagrass conservation into climate action strategies.

Seagrass Species in India

India's seagrass meadows host 16 species of seagrass including species like Zostera marina, Halophila ovalis, Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii. These species are mainly concentrated in:

Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu): Home to largest concentration of seagrass species in India especially Enhalus acoroides which is crucial for carbon sequestration.

Palk Bay (Tamil Nadu): Contains seagrass beds that support diverse marine life.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: These islands host important seagrass meadows that serve as key breeding grounds for marine species.

Lakshadweep Islands: Rich in biodiversity & home to seagrass species such as Thalassia hemprichii & Halophila decipiens.

Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat): Known for its biodiversity supporting various seagrass species though under threat from industrial activities.

Government Policies and Initiatives

National Marine Fisheries Policy: Government of India has established National Marine Fisheries Policy which outlines strategies to protect marine ecosystems including seagrass meadows. The policy includes provisions for sustainable use of coastal resources, habitat restoration,  prevention of coastal degradation.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM): ICZM program is a flagship initiative aimed at managing coastal ecosystems and ensuring sustainable development along India’s coastline. It integrates environmental, social, economic concerns in managing the coastal zones including protection of seagrass meadows from urban development, pollution etc.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): India National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes National Mission for a Green India which recognizes importance of marine & coastal ecosystems like seagrass for carbon sequestration & climate change mitigation.

Key Recommendations for Seagrass Protection

Strengthening enforcement of existing laws such as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification & Wildlife Protection Act will help curb illegal activities like construction in ecologically sensitive areas.

Expanding & improving management of Marine Protected Areas to encompass more seagrass meadows could provide stronger protection against habitat destruction.

Increasing use of advanced restoration technologies including genetic restoration to help recover degraded seagrass meadows at larger scale.

Engaging local communities in conservation efforts particularly in seagrass restoration can improve the sustainability of protection measures & raise awareness of the importance of these ecosystems.

More comprehensive scientific research on the ecological & socioeconomic value of seagrass is essential to inform policymaking & conservation strategies.

Indian Coastal Ecosystems

Indian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Sources:

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