CQUniversity researchers contribute to national effort to scale up seagrass restoration
CQUniversity researchers from the University’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) are playing a key role in a major national effort to restore seagrass ecosystems at scale, following the announcement of new Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project funding.
The $866,343 project, Advancing seagrass restoration to ecologically-relevant scales in Australia, brings together researchers, industry partners and Traditional Owner groups to address one of the most pressing challenges facing Australia’s marine environments.
CQUniversity’s Professor Emma Jackson and Dr Manoj Kumar are part of the multidisciplinary team, alongside collaborators from Deakin University, with support from partners including the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Melbourne Water.
Seagrasses are often referred to by marine experts as the “kidneys of the Great Barrier Reef” for their role in filtering nutrients and sediments, supporting water quality and reef health. They also underpin Australia’s fisheries, contributing an estimated $31.5 million annually by providing critical breeding habitat for marine species.
Despite their importance, at least 291,000 hectares of seagrass meadows have been lost across Australia since the 1930s, disrupting marine ecosystems and reducing environmental resilience.
Professor Jackson said the project aimed to overcome key barriers that have limited restoration efforts to date.
“This research will help us move beyond small, localised restoration and towards approaches that can deliver meaningful ecological impact at scale,” she said.
The project will develop a practical framework for large-scale seagrass restoration, focusing on optimising nursery production to improve the propagation, storage and supply of restoration material, developing scalable methods for seed dispersal.
By investigating the biological traits that make seagrasses resilient and productive, the project will also help identify plants with greater capacity to survive, flower and produce seeds, enabling smarter and more successful restoration at scale.
Professor Jackson said the collaborative approach would be critical to delivering real-world outcomes.
“Seagrass systems are complex and restoring them at scale requires strong partnerships and a shared understanding of what works in different environments,” she said.
CQUniversity’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) works with coastal industries and communities to develop practical and sustainable solutions for Australia’s unique coastal and marine environments.
