Strengthening Coastal Ecosystems & Community Resilience: February Field Update

From February 4 to 9, the Ocean Farming and Rural Technology teams of AMMACHI Labs carried out a series of intensive field activities across the coastal regions of Thondi, Soliyakudi, Nambuthalai, and Olaikuda in Rameswaram. The initiative focused on advancing seagrass restoration alongside marine environmental monitoring, reinforcing efforts toward sustainable coastal ecosystem management.

Over the course of the week, large-scale seagrass restoration was successfully implemented with active participation from MSW and BSW students of Amrita University (Amrita MSW Coimbatore) and women from local coastal communities. Healthy Cymodocea seagrass shoots were carefully planted across extended seabed areas using biodegradable cocopeat pots. This eco-friendly approach is expected to strengthen marine biodiversity while contributing to long-term coastal resilience.

In parallel, the Rural Technology team designed and field-tested customized marine sensor deployment systems built from locally sourced materials. HoBo sensors were calibrated and strategically deployed across seaweed farming sites to generate critical environmental data. The collected data will help researchers and farmers better understand key factors influencing seaweed growth and productivity.

To further empower coastal communities, awareness sessions were conducted with women seaweed cultivators. These sessions focused on building capacity in data-driven marine farming practices, enabling women farmers to integrate technology into their livelihoods and improve sustainability outcomes.

At Olaikuda, environmental monitoring and underwater documentation confirmed encouraging growth in previously restored seagrass meadows, indicating steady ecological recovery and validating the effectiveness of earlier restoration interventions.

By integrating ecosystem restoration, community participation, youth engagement, and technological innovation, AMMACHI Labs continues to support sustainable coastal livelihoods and climate resilience in vulnerable coastal regions.