Propagating and planting Enhalus!
My early experiences of seagrass research revolved around Nurseries, in various locations around Phuket. I was lucky enough to have been presented with several tanks for my research. I began devouring papers on Enhalus Acoroides, with my newfound best friend Sci Hub. I read countless papers, implemented viability tests, root stimulation protocols, developed a growth accelerator, changed substrate and spent many an hour with the good folks at the Phuket Marine Biology centre.
The dooms day prediction! Climate change x Enhalus Acoroides bed……
With help we increased our survival rate and are able to plant in various locations around the island of Phuket.
I was however unaware of the full picture of how several agencies had monetised this particular seagrass seed throughout Thailand and the world. Inadvertently paying into an industry that revolves around harvesting the natural of capital of Thailand without regulation or any real thought process, refer to “Seagrass Pirate’s”!
Just because you can does not mean you should!
As my knowledge increased so did my interest and therefore my survival rate increased. I envisioned at first providing this knowledge to various agencies around Thailand and the wider tropics to the benefit of mankind! (boy was I wrong, my ego took a hit on this one)
Throughout my picking and planting expeditions, I always take pictures. Track with a drone where the seeds are recovered and generally try to reduce MY IMPACT on the bed.
It took me a year to work out why Enhalus Acoroides is an endangered species. Enhalus has no natural grazers(the lovable dugong mainly sticks to the other seagrass varieties), it is not a food source (well the leaves are not), it actually grows better in higher temperatures (so climate change not really an issue).
Enhalus is one tough plant (i’ve seen it living quite happily in course substrate in high turbulence areas), once it is fully matured it is what I would call an “ecosystem engineer”. If it is there and healthy then it is a good sign the bed is not at risk.
So what is happening?? What w,ho or why has it made it to the IUCN red list???