Across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), lush meadows of green seagrass stretch along coastlines, creating a critical underwater habitat. This vibrant ecosystem teems with marine life from schools of shimmering juvenile fish swimming across the islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago, to green sea turtles feeding on seagrass blades in Seychelles, to families of dugongs gently grazing in the shallow waters of Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago.
While mistakenly confused with macroalgae like seaweeds, seagrasses are marine plants that provide climate benefits by drawing down earth-warming carbon into ocean sediments and stabilizing shorelines during storms.
Despite its importance to biodiversity, climate, and coastal communities, seagrass meadows face increasing pressure across the WIO from coastal development, dredging, and pollution. Compounded by limited national-level mapping and policy inclusion, many meadows remain unprotected and undervalued. The WIO region still lacks a fully verified seagrass map, creating a barrier to the inclusion of seagrasses into conservation and management frameworks.
To address this critical data gap, The Large-Scale Seagrass Mapping and Management Initiative (LaSMMI) is advancing the knowledge of seagrass coverage and its carbon stock across the (WIO). With over 9,500 km of coastline and 2 million km² of sea area spanning Kenya, Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar), Mozambique, and Madagascar, this highly-collaborative effort is laying the groundwork for science-led ocean stewardship across national boundaries.
Why Seagrass Matters
Protecting seagrass unlocks a triple win for biodiversity, climate, and coastal communities, making these often-overlooked meadows vital to a thriving ocean and resilient future.
- Biodiversity lifeline: Seagrass meadows support critical marine species, from fish stocks and sea turtles to endangered dugongs, serving as nursery, feeding, and breeding grounds.
- Blue carbon champions: While less renowned than mangroves, seagrasses efficiently capture and store carbon in their soils, making them powerful allies in climate mitigation.
- Coastal resilience and community benefit: Seagrasses stabilize shorelines, filter pollutants, and support small-scale fisheries, directly underpinning the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities.
Why LaSMMI Was Created
After the successful mapping of Seychelles’ seagrass and blue carbon stock, an initiative that informed the country’s 2021 nationally determined contributions (NDC) commitments, LaSMMI was launched to scale that model across four WIO countries. Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and spearheaded by the University of Southampton, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), and 5 country research institutions , the project aims to produce the first field-verified regional seagrass map, strengthen national science capacity, and support the integration of seagrass conservation into climate and management policy across the region.
Fig. 1. Seagrass and its biodiversity in Seychelles. Photo credit: Seychelles Seagrass Mapping and Carbon Assessment project
Key Goals & Expected Outcomes
LaSMMI is designed to build the scientific foundation, technical capacity, and policy momentum needed to elevate seagrass as a conservation and climate priority across the Western Indian Ocean.
- By the end of 2026: A standardized, field-verified seagrass baseline map and carbon stock assessment for Kenya, Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar archipelago), Mozambique, and Madagascar.
- Training and capacity expansion : Workshops enabling researchers to expand skills in seagrass mapping, collecting field verification data, and training in soil collection methods for carbon stock analysis, building regional expertise.
- Policy integration: Collaborating with Pew’s ongoing efforts in the WIO supporting countries to include seagrasses in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
LaSMMI is proof that translating underwater ecosystems into policy value isn’t just feasible, it’s essential. The project is poised to elevate seagrass not as an afterthought, but as a critical piece of the region’s climate, biodiversity, and community resilience puzzle.
Meet the Country Teams
KENYA
LaSMMI work is being led by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute under the direction of Dr. Jacqueline Uku. Dr. Uku specializes in the ecology and physiology of marine flora with a focus on seagrasses. She started her career in the 1990s “as a seagrass scientist with the big vision of putting little known seagrasses on the Kenyan map” Dr. Uku has served as the past President of WIOMSA and also as the Chair of the Africa Decade Task Force. She has worked extensively with coastal communities and as a member of the Ocean Literacy Group of Experts, she continues to support awareness raising of ocean issues through engagement in ocean literacy activities. Dr. Uku notes that “The LaSMMI project is a long-awaited initiative for us in Kenya and it will fulfil my vision for this critical ecosystem. I am awed by all the opportunities that this project presents in raising the next generation of seagrass scientists.”
TANZANIA
The University of Dar es Salaam is leading LaSMMI in mainland Tanzania, under the guidance of Dr. Blandina Lugendo, Dean of the School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology. Dr. Lugendo’s research focuses on seagrass and fish ecology. She has been a key figure in WIOMSA since 1996, contributing significantly to marine science in the region. Dr. Lugendo has long been a champion for seagrass, and says that while “seagrass meadows are among the most valuable shallow coastal ecosystems, nonetheless, they are not well understood, and hence not fully appreciated or effectively conserved.” In fact she notes that “it is difficult to protect what we don’t know” and she sees LaSMMI as an “opportunity to map seagrasses in the Western Indian Ocean region in order to better understand them and enhance their conservation.”
ZANZIBAR
The State University of Zanzibar is leading LaSMMI work in the Zanzibar archipelago steered by Dr. Ali Ussi, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Natural Sciences. Dr. Ussi is an environmentalist who served as the Department of Natural Sciences head in 2016 and thereafter as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Academics, Research and Consultancy. Dr Ussi says that “The LaSMMI project exemplifies the State University of Zanzibar’s unwavering commitment to sustainable marine resource management, highlighting our dedication to seagrass conservation through strategic international collaborations and informed local expertise.” As an active researcher in marine ecology, he finds that the data provided by LaSMMI will be a critical component in the climate change mitigation strategy for the Western Indian Ocean region.”
MOZAMBIQUE
Eduardo Mondlane University is leading on the LaSMMI work in Mozambique, under the direction of Prof. Salomão Bandeira (PhD), who is renowned for his work in marine botany. Prof. Banderia’s research focuses on seagrass restoration and monitoring, contributing to the conservation of these ecosystems. He is keen to better understand the climate benefits of seagrass and says that “LaSMMI highlights seagrass as a carbon superpower, enabling climate adaptation, coastal protection, and supporting fisheries, all through collaborative efforts that empower community resilience in the Western Indian Ocean region.”
MADAGASCAR
The University of Toliara is driving LaSMMI work in Madagascar, guided by Prof. Nirinarisoa Lantoasinoro Ranivoarivelo, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Fisheries and Marines Sciences. Prof. Lantoasinoro Ranivoarivelo is the Head of the Blue Carbon Ecosystem Laboratory within the institute and her research focuses on marine botany including seagrass, mangroves, and macroalgae. She also leads several research projects at both local and national levels, focusing on the conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems specifically, mangroves and seagrass meadows. She finds that, “The LaSMMI project underscores the importance of seagrass conservation, highlighting their role in supporting marine life, storing carbon, and protecting coastlines. This initiative demonstrates a collective effort to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable ocean stewardship.”
