Restoring seagrass systems in the United States

Fonseca, Mark

Seagrass restoration has been viewed as a proven technology, capable of producing a product upon specification, when in fact it has really been the product of a series of disjunct experiments. Rather than focusing on ways to improve development actions and ecological resilience, protection of seagrass beds (and most other natural resources) has been concerned with defensive or remedial action. Depletion of seagrass resources and the services they provide are not perceived in policy-making circles as serious problems because of an undeserved faith in the technology of restoration. Project goals have historically been inappropriate such that seagrass restoration has never prevented a net loss in habitat. Suggested goals for future projects should: develop persistent cover, generate equivalent acreage, increase acreage, replace the same seagrass species, and restore secondary (faunal) production. These goals are differentiated from sole measures of density and percent survival. Monitoring for cover and persistence should continue for three years. Restoration should only be performed on areas previously supporting seagrass, unless uplands currently zoned for development are available for conversion. Otherwise, substitution of one habitat type for another may be anticipated. Intrinsic population growth rate provides guidance as to the species used for restoration. Site selection remains a complex problem which requires inclusion of specific conditions in the permit to help determine project location and success. Research needs include: (1) a definition of functional restoration, (2) a compilation of population growth and coverage rates, (3) the resource role of mixed species plantings, (4) the impact of substituting pioneer for climax species on faunal composition and abundance, (5) culture techniques for propagule development, (6) transplant-optimization techniques such as the use of fertilizer, (7) the importance of maintaining genetic diversity, and (8) the implementation of a consistent policy on seagrass restoration as mitigation is clearly defined and restoration technique, monitoring, performance and compliance guidelines are standardized. A system which does not merely document but tracks permits and evaluates them as to performance and compliance must be developed. Most important is the willingness of management to not only collect performance and compliance data but to strictly enforce compliance and, if necessary, prosecute violators regardless of acreage involved, a process that can only succeed through extensive intra- and interagency coordination. Abstract provided by author.

Restoring seagrass systems in the United States

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