To progressively restore this valuable ecosystem, Research Institute for Marine Fisheries  (RIMF) has been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (currently the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) to implement the environmental protection project entitled: “Assessment of the causes of seagrass ecosystem degradation and proposal of sustainable management and exploitation solutions for seagrass ecosystems in Vietnam’s marine protected areas”, under the leadership of Dr. Do Anh Duy.

The project is scheduled for a 36-month implementation period (January 2025 - December 2027) and aims to (i) assess the causes of degradation of seagrass ecosystems and (ii) propose sustainable management and exploitation solutions for seagrass ecosystems within Vietnam’s marine protected areas

In 2025, the project has been taken some comprehensive research activities, achieving the following initial results as below:

- Compilation and analysis of policies and regulations related to the sustainable management and exploitation of seagrass ecosystems worldwide and in Vietnam.

- Assessment of the causes of seagrass ecosystem degradation in the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area as a basis for proposing restoration measures.

- Development of an experimental restoration model and establishment of a seagrass nursery in degraded seagrass areas within the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area.

During the first survey (April 2025) in the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, the research team completed an overview assessment of the seagrass ecosystem; identified several sites in the Bai Bac area with suitable natural, environmental, and substrate conditions for restoration planting and nursery establishment; determined the smooth ribbon seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata) as the dominant species for restoration; and selected an appropriate restoration method.

During the second survey (July 2025) in the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, the research team focused on implementing the experimental model of seagrass planting restoration.

Seagrass bed restoration: Applying the bottom-planting method (shoot-based restoration). The method used vertical planting units (including roots, rhizomes and leaves) for direct planting on soft sediment. These were then fixed in place using firmly anchored rattan stakes to stabilize the plants on the seabed and reduce the impacts of waves and currents. The total restoration area in the first phase of 2025 reached 250 m², with a planting density of 4–5 clumps/m²; each clump contained approximately 2–4 plants (shoots). This corresponds to approximately 1,000 seagrass plants (shoots) being restored.

Fig 1: Shoot-based restoration planting activities in the seagrass restoration area

Establishment of a seagrass sods nursery: A seagrass nursery area of 50 m² was established with a planting density of 8–10 clumps/m². The smooth ribbon seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata) wild stock was used for nursery development, providing a source of shoot-based restoration activities in 2026. The seagrass sods were arranged in a systematic manner to facilitate management and allow for supplementary planting when necessary.

Fig 2: Establishment of a seagrass sods nursery in the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area

Concurrently, environmental monitoring and assessment were conducted at the restoration sites, including measurements of shoot density and seagrass coverage in the restoration area, serving as a basis for monitoring the restoration process. In 2026, supplementary planting and expansion of the restored seagrass area will be carried out to further enhance the conservation effectiveness of the seagrass ecosystem within the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, Da Nang City.

Bui Minh Tuan, Pham Tran Dinh Nho