Diversity of seagrasses and site-specific strategy for their restoration in Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park—Gujarat, India.

The Gulf of Kachchh (GoK) is diversified with various marine habitats, influenced by semi-diurnal tidal amplitude and heavy sedimentation. Seagrass is one of the key habitats in GoK with the predominant diversity of Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, and Thalassia hemprichii. The seagrass is subjected to be at risk than any other habitats due to natural and human impacts. Strategies need to be developed to conserve seagrass patches of inhospitable environments like GoK, which demands the present feasibility study on seagrass restoration. In the present study, the seagrass habitats of the GoK were assessed in Pirotan, Narara, and Mithapur reef areas. Halophila ovalis showed the most extensive coverage in all the studied sites during the study period (62.11 ± 5.60/m2 in Pirotan; 60.70 ± 7.24/m2 in Mithapur and 59.32 ± 5.45/m2 in Narara sites). Likewise, Thalassia hemprichii showed the least cover in all the three studied sites (25 ± 6.28/m2 at Narara; 28.93 ± 3.54/m2 in Pirotan and 31.78 ± 4.16/m2 in Mithapur sites). Site-specific strategies have been attempted to develop a successful seagrass restoration nursery for Ha. ovalis and H. uninervis in the GoK region. To restore the seagrass species, vegetative sprigs were planted using the staple method. To increase the stability, the sprigs were later planted by attaching them within the iron frame (1 m x 1 m size) with the support of metallic mesh. The water quality and physical property of the restoration sites were documented. Two potential seagrass meadows were also identified along the Marine National Park (MNP) which can act as donor sites for restoration along the GoK in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]