From November 21–23, 2025, AMMACHI Labs’ Ocean Farming Team conducted an intensive three-day field visit to the coastal villages of Thiruppalkudi, Munekad, and Olaikuda in Tamil Nadu. Despite challenging monsoon conditions, the team continued its mission to strengthen community-led seagrass restoration, capacity building, and seaweed monitoring—empowering local women and protecting vital blue-carbon ecosystems.
The visit began at Thiruppalkudi, where the team assessed the growth and health of women-led seaweed farms. Two local women received hands-on training in seagrass restoration, accompanied by an awareness session on the ecological significance of these underwater meadows.
Despite high water levels caused by the monsoon, the team successfully restored 0.02 hectares of seagrass, marking steady progress in the site’s ecosystem recovery.
The second day focused on community engagement and restoration efforts in Munekad. Local participants attended a seagrass awareness and demonstration session, learning sustainable restoration methods.
Rough seas had washed healthy seagrass shoots ashore, which the team collected and replanted. This effort resulted in 0.05 hectares of seagrass restoration. The session concluded with a community pledge to protect coastal ecosystems, followed by light refreshments.
The field visit concluded in Olaikuda, where the team conducted a follow-up assessment at a site where nearly one hectare of seagrass had been restored in September. Although high tides and turbid waters limited visibility, the team successfully captured underwater video assessments.
No floating or washed-up seagrass was observed—an encouraging indication of early ecosystem stability and successful restoration.
These activities reflect AMMACHI Labs’ ongoing commitment to community-centric marine conservation—strengthening coastal livelihoods, enhancing local stewardship, and safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems across Tamil Nadu.
This initiative directly contributes to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
The Ocean Farming projects in Tamil Nadu are implemented by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in collaboration with: Esri, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, GEF Small Grants Programme (Global Environment Facility), Transworld, and TERI – The Energy and Resources Institute.
