Eelgrass Restoration

The Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group is home to the world’s first flowering shoots germinated from seed in captivity!

In March of 2023, a pot of eelgrass germinated from seed in 2021 entered its next stage of life as it produced flowering shoots with warming spring temperatures. As we refine propagation methods and continue to learn from our growing seagrass nursery, our goal still remains to help re-establish eelgrass beds in island salt ponds for bay scallop habitat.

Vineyard Gazette article: scallop ranchers

Getting Deep Into the Seaweeds by Nelson Sigelman

Importance of Eelgrass:

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds serve as crucial habitat for the bivalves we invest our time in, particularly bay scallops. With its spreading rhizomes and dense blades, eelgrass is able to protect shallow areas against erosion and produce a more stable substrate, thus creating habitat for shellfish and many other animals. Like bivalves, eelgrass increases water clarity and nutrient filtration by trapping fine particles, while also sequestering greenhouse gases. Without the protection and ecosystem services eelgrass provides, the future of our reared shellfish is much more uncertain, making this a project we have a clear vested interest in.

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collecting eelgrass:

We gather eelgrass that has already been uprooted; whether it be from boat anchors, wave action, or other natural causes. We collect them from shallow water along the shore, boat landings and harbors. Menemsha Harbor here on Martha’s Vineyard is a hotspot for full, uprooted eelgrass plants. In addition to collecting from Menemsha, we also collect eelgrass from Tashmoo, Edgartown Great Pond, and Moshup beach on the island to increase genetic diversity. These plants may drift around with currents and winds but will never re-plant themselves. By collecting washed ashore eelgrass, we minimize resources needed to harvest the eelgrass, and restore the uprooted plant’s ability to provide for the ecosystem once again.

restoring eelgrass:

Our efforts to reintroduce uprooted eelgrass plants into their natural coastal marine environment include replanting in wooden floating rafts as an eelgrass nursery system providing instant habitat, and planting directly in the bottom environment when permitted. In winter of 2020-21, eelgrass was grown from seed in-hatchery with seeds found washed ashore. Those shoots and others then comprised the over 2,000 shoots planted into Lagoon Pond by MVSG staff and volunteers in 2022. As of fall/winter 2023, MVSG in collaboration with the Oak Bluffs Shellfish Dept. has initiated an experimental bottom planting site in Lagoon Pond to test alternate anchorage methods for eelgrass shoots.

Eelgrass Restoration