The catalina island eelgrass restoration project aims to restore 60,000 square feet of zostera pacifica, a critical fish habitat, at white cove on catalina island, CA

The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation (doing business as The Bay Foundation) received a $199,520 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) program (CFDA 15.686) effective July 1, 2025, with a completion date of June 1, 2028. The grant funds the Catalina Island Eelgrass Restoration Project, which will restore 60,000 square feet of Zostera pacifica (eelgrass) habitat at White Cove on Catalina Island, California. This effort represents the largest Z. pacifica transplant initiative to date, involving the transplantation of over 4,000 turions (vegetative propagules) to re-establish seagrass in a historically productive area.

The project will deliver a restored eelgrass habitat alongside comprehensive biophysical monitoring data to assess restoration success factors and ecosystem outcomes. Additional deliverables include educational outreach materials designed to build community support for marine conservation. The initiative will produce a scalable restoration framework aligned with NOAA's No Net Loss guidelines, offering insights into Z. pacifica performance under open coast conditions. Expected outcomes include increased fish rearing habitat, enhanced biodiversity, improved recreational and commercial fishing opportunities for local, recreational, and Indigenous stakeholders, and strengthened ecosystem connectivity and resilience in Southern California's marine environment.

This project will employ innovative transplant methodologies to RE-establish eelgrass in an area that historically supported a robust seagrass bed, marking the largest z. Pacifica transplant effort to date. The team will transplant over 4,000 turions while conducting biophysical monitoring to understand key drivers of restoration success. The project will serve as a scalable model for habitat restoration, enhancing resiliency and supporting ecosystem connectivity. This initiative addresses the global loss of seagrass, an essential species providing ecological benefits and supporting biodiversity. In californias southern california bight, where eelgrass habitats are diminishing, this project will fill research and conservation gaps by focusing on the underrepresented z. Pacifica species. Eelgrass restoration on catalina island will benefit federally and state-managed species, enhance fisheries, and provide new opportunities for recreational and commercial fishing.deliverables include the restored eelgrass habitat, ecosystem monitoring data, and educational outreach to inspire community support. Expected outcomes include increased fish rearing habitats, enhanced biodiversity, and bolstered fishing opportunities for local, recreational, and indigenous stakeholders. As a subtidal habitat accessible to visitors and supported by the islands robust tourism industry, the restored site will enrich public engagement in marine conservation.by implementing noaas no net loss guidelines and innovative monitoring regimes, the project will establish a framework for assessing restoration success, offering insights into the realized niche of z. Pacifica under open coast conditions. Outreach efforts will engage many stakeholders, fostering long-term commitment to seagrass ecosystem health.