Restoring Seagrass Meadows Through Collaboration
Description
CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) recently led a forum in conjunction with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Gidarjil Development Corporation and Blue Praxis to showcase the research currently underway at the Centre in seagrass restoration, including their SeaGrow nursery design and development, and to share ideas with other organisations working in the fields of seagrass restoration and blue carbon.
Partners
Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Gidarjil Development Corporation, Blue Praxis
Impact
Professor Jackson said the collaboration with these groups was key to establishing a bank of knowledge and experience in seagrass nurseries and restoration in the region.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation Blue Carbon Project Manager Dr Ingrid Suter said the Great Barrier Reef was home to the largest seagrass ecosystem on the planet at more than 4.5 million hectares.
She said it was an important nursery and food source for endangered species like the turtle and dugong, but also had another critical job – mitigating climate change by storing more than 400 million tonnes of carbon.
“Through the largest seagrass restoration project on the Great Barrier Reef, we’re creating a blueprint for a partnership model that will support Traditional Owner groups across the Great Barrier Reef to be at the forefront of seagrass restoration and provide a sustainable legacy into the future through emerging nature-repair markets.”
Researcher
Professor Emma Jackson
Director of CMERC Professor Emma Jackson said the forum brought together like-minded organisations to develop a collaborative approach to seagrass restoration in the region.
“CQUniversity has been working on seagrass restoration for about 10 years now and as part of that process we have developed seagrass nurseries to help with restoration projects, in particular seabed restoration,” she explained.
“During the forum we got together with other groups that are also looking at seagrass restoration from across the Great Barrier Reef, including Traditional Owners from six different areas, researchers from other universities, natural resource managers and some commercial operators, with the goal of developing and expanding seagrass nurseries to help support seagrass restoration for the Great Barrier Reef.”
Professor Jackson said the collaboration with these groups was key to establishing a bank of knowledge and experience in seagrass nurseries and restoration in the region.
CMERC has three major seagrass projects currently underway: SeaGrow in Gladstone, a partnership with the Gidarjil Development Corporation and supported by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and The Coles Group; a partnership with the Reef Catchment and the Ngaro people for an Airlie Beach project funded by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation; and the Woppaburra TUMRA and partners the Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre where CMERC acts as a research and education resource.
Professor Jackson said seagrass plays an integral role in the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
“Seagrasses have a list of what we call ecosystem services. Two that are grabbing people’s attention at the moment are blue carbon and fish habitat provision.
“As part of the forum we hosted staff from Blue Praxis, who provided a Blue Carbon discovery session.
“Seagrasses can trap carbon in the sediment and hold it long term, which is important as it draws carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and helps to offset climate change and global warming.
“Seagrasses are also vital fish and crustacean habitat, and foraging grounds for these species. They trap a lot of fine sediment and nutrients and are often regarded as the kidneys of the Great Barrier Reef.
“They are also a direct food source for dugongs and turtles, so by protecting the seagrass we get less strandings and die offs of dugong and turtles.”
“However, as the climate continues to change, more severe and frequent storm and flood events are impacting the Reef’s seagrass meadows.
“Through the largest seagrass restoration project on the Great Barrier Reef, we’re creating a blueprint for a partnership model that will support Traditional Owner groups across the Great Barrier Reef to be at the forefront of seagrass restoration and provide a sustainable legacy into the future through emerging nature-repair markets.”
Gidarjil Development Corporation Sea Ranger, Markeeta Sullivan said: “For me, it’s about restoring the seagrass meadows by bringing back the dugongs, turtles, fish and crustacean habitats and creating a healthier harbour for our next generation, and generations to come.
“I am hoping there will be more mob working on Country with the same vision that I have.”
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