Westport has partnered with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) to deliver the $13.5 million WAMSI-Westport Marine Science Program. This 3-year program is developing the latest data, information and modelling on the complex environmental systems and community values associated with Cockburn Sound.
Project 2.3.2: Seagrass restoration - Final report
Theme: Benthic habitats and communities
Researchers: Kendrick, G., Verduin, J., Ferretto, G., Austin, R., Evans, H., van Keulen, M. (2025).
Viability of a large-scale seagrass restoration program in Cockburn Sound
Seagrass meadows are critical to the ecological health of Cockburn Sound, providing essential ecosystem services and acting as indicators of environmental change.
The focus of this report was to address the viability of a large-scale seagrass restoration program in Cockburn Sound to both mitigate potential seagrass loss associated with dredging and building of new port facilities and to enhance the resilience of existing recovering meadows.
This project aimed to:
- Test effectiveness of seed-based and shoot-based methods for large-scale seagrass restoration.
- Understand plant-scale environmental conditions to identify optimal locations, species, scales, and methods for restoration.
- Evaluate the potential of sediment and dredging byproducts to enhance seagrass restoration.
- Grow local community programs aimed at restoring seagrasses through existing (OzFish Seeds for Snapper) and other planned restoration activities across Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage.
How Westport will use the report
Westport will use this report to inform its environmental impact assessment as well as seagrass restoration activities to build resilience and support the long-term health of Cockburn Sound.
