In observance of World Oceans Day, the AMMACHI Labs “Blue Ocean” team from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham organized a seagrass planting and restoration drive at Thondi village in Ramanathapuram district. The initiative brought together students and faculty from Amrita’s Ettimadai Campus “Live-in-Labs” program alongside two visiting undergraduates from the University of Arizona.
During the event, participants transplanted two species of seagrass, Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodeum isoetifolium into the shallow coastal waters off Thondi. Seagrasses are critical to healthy marine ecosystems: they stabilize sediments, mitigate coastal erosion, and serve as significant carbon sinks. Moreover, these underwater meadows provide essential habitat and foraging grounds for green sea turtles, dugongs, and numerous fish species.
With global seagrass meadows declining at an average rate of 1.5% per year, conservation efforts such as this play a vital role in raising awareness and safeguarding marine biodiversity. “By engaging local communities and students in hands-on restoration work, we aim not only to rehabilitate our coastal zones but also to inspire sustained stewardship of our oceans,” said the project lead of the Blue Ocean initiative.
Arwindh, a student from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Amrita Ettimadai campus, shared his reflections: “Working together in the water and seeing our efforts take root—it was both educational and deeply rewarding.”
The team has pledged to continue monitoring the transplanted seagrasses and to organize follow-up restoration events in collaboration with coastal residents.
