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Preserving and restoring seagrass beds

Seagrass beds are found in the sheltered coastal zones I the Dutch Caribbean, particularly in Bonaire’s Lac Bay, St. Eustatius' Oranje Bay, and the shallows surrounding Saba's coastal shelf. They function as nurseries for many (commercial) fish species, house high numbers of biodiversity, and play vital roles in coastal protection, trapping sediment and preventing erosion. (also sequestering carbon). They are threatened by warming seas and human impact, including eutrophication due to run off and overflow of wastewater. Protecting seagrass habitats will require a multi-pronged approach: stricter enforcement of no-anchoring zones, investment in sustainable mooring systems, improved wastewater treatment to reduce nutrient pollution, and targeted efforts to control invasive species. Public awareness campaigns and better zoning for recreational activities can help minimize physical damage from tourism. Equally important is restoration through limiting human access to important seagrass areas, improving water quality to enhance recovery, and safeguarding adjacent habitats like mangroves and coral reefs that are ecologically linked to seagrass health. 

Feasibility & Local Applicability

Moderately high

Co-benefits

Nursery habitats for (commercial) fish and other species, protection of coastlines, support tourism, store carbon, enhance biodiversity (invertebrates, sea turtles, microbial communities for nutrient cycling)

Equity & Vulnerability Considerations

Seagrass restoration is possible and promising, but only when invasive species, water quality, and physical disturbance are actively managed. While restoration can deliver major social benefits—such as improved fisheries, coastal protection, and new job opportunities—the process must actively include local fishers, community members, and traditional knowledge holders. Without shared decision-making and fair distribution of benefits, restoration risks reinforcing existing inequalities. With intentional community engagement and benefit-sharing, however, seagrass recovery can become a highly equitable, community-strengthening initiative. 

Costs

Moderate 

Case studies & Examples

Literature

Adaptation Options Overview