Seagrass Resurgence: A Case Study of Restoration and Biodiversity Recovery in Virginia

 Photo credit[NIWA]

In the 1930s, a slime mold outbreak and a powerful hurricane wiped out Virginia’s seagrass meadows, causing cascading ecosystem damage. Bay scallops disappeared, and fish populations declined. By 1999, scientists discovered a few surviving eelgrass plants, leading to one of the largest seagrass restoration efforts in the world. Volunteers and scientists from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) have since planted over 72 million eelgrass seeds, restoring nearly 9,500 acres of seagrass across several bays. These seagrass meadows now support growing populations of blue crabs, seahorses, and even the once-rare American eel. Seagrass is also a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Just five acres can absorb enough carbon dioxide to offset the emissions of a car driven 15,000 miles per year, making its restoration a win for both marine life and the planet.