Potential Site Selection for Seagrass Cultivation/ Restoration in the East Coast of India

Seagrass meadows are vital coastal ecosystems that provide significant ecological services, including shoreline stabilization, wave energy attenuation, carbon sequestration, and enhancement of marine biodiversity. However, their global decline due to natural and anthropogenic stressors necessitates systematic identification of suitable regions for sustainable seagrass cultivation and restoration. This study aims to assess the potential sites for seagrass cultivation and restoration along the east coast of India, encompassing the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, by evaluating key physical and biogeochemical parameters within established seagrass tolerance thresholds.

The bathymetry, significant wave height, potential surface temperature, sea surface salinity, photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and chlorophyll-a concentration data are used to identify potential sites along the east coast of India. Our analysis indicates a pronounced seasonal cycle across the study area, up to 30 m depth which is suitable for seagrass photosynthesis, driven primarily by monsoon dynamics and regional freshwater inputs. Certain coastal stretches exhibit persistently moderate wave energy, favorable thermal and salinity regimes, and sufficient primary productivity, suggesting high potential for sustainable seagrass establishment. This study provides a data-driven framework and a machine learning technique for identifying suitable potential seagrass restoration/ cultivation sites all along the east coast of India.

Keywords: Seagrass Restoration, Seagrass in east Indian coast, Seagrass Datasets