Seagrass meadows are among the most important habitats in the waters around Cu Lao Cham in Danang. They provide breeding, feeding and shelter grounds for numerous marine species, support biodiversity, protect fisheries resources, stabilise coastal environments and absorb large amounts of carbon, helping mitigate climate change.
According to the Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve Management Board, seagrass coverage has declined sharply over the past decade. The area of seagrass meadows fell from around 50 hectares in 2014 to just 15-17 hectares in recent years. An assessment covering the 1999-2025 period also found significant degradation of several seagrass beds around the islands.
The Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve Management Board is piloting the restoration of seagrass beds (Photo: Management Board).
In response, the management board and scientific partners launched a pilot project to restore seagrass meadows while improving local livelihoods.
Among those leading the effort are Tran Thi Phuong Thao, 37, and Nguyen Thi Hong Thuy, 32. Both have been directly involved in surveying, researching and replanting seagrass underwater.
After months of assessing environmental conditions, mapping seagrass distribution and selecting suitable restoration techniques, the pilot project began at Bai Bac in March 2026.
The two women and their colleagues use scuba diving techniques to plant seagrass on the seabed.
Seagrass restoration activities in Cu Lao Cham (Photo: Management Board).
Thao said divers must carefully identify planting locations and secure each seedling bag to the seabed to prevent plants from being swept away by waves and currents.
"Every dive requires a high level of concentration to ensure both safety and the preservation of the natural environment," she said.
Monitoring and checking the growth of restored seagrass beds (Photo: Management Board).
Four months after planting began, encouraging signs have emerged. Underground stems have spread beyond the planting bags and new shoots have appeared on the natural seabed.
New seagrass shoots have begun to turn green on the seabed off Cu Lao Cham (Photo: Management Board).
The return of seagrass has also attracted marine life, including snails, fish eggs, goatfish and rabbitfish, species closely associated with seagrass ecosystems. Conservationists see this as evidence that the area's ecological functions are beginning to recover.
The two young women, Phuong Thao and Hong Thuy, prepare to dive into the sea for their work (Photo: Management Board).
Nguyen Van Vu, deputy director of the Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve Management Board, said the project aims not only to restore seagrass but also to support sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
"We are studying two to three livelihood models for local residents. Moc Cham Cooperative has already received equipment to develop products made from forest leaves and seaweed. In Bai Huong, many residents have voluntarily joined conservation initiatives linked to economic development," Vu said.
Tourists swim and view coral and underwater vegetation off Cu Lao Cham (Photo: Cong Binh).
Researchers are also studying the carbon absorption and storage capacity of seagrass meadows to provide a scientific basis for future "blue carbon" initiatives, he added.
