Pilot Project Overview
MIT Sea Grant's (MITSG) Marine Education program proposes to partner with the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center (GMHC) and MACZM to enhance and maximize MACZM's state wide Habitat Suitability Program by assisting in the outreach and education component by involving coastal schools that will grow eelgrass in recirculating aquaculture systems. This skill and career oriented hands-on project will emphasize math, science, history and English skills such as: eelgrass biology and ecology, graphing data, water quality testing, reporting, troubleshooting and system design. Not only will eelgrass shoots be cultivated and get reseeded in our coastal waters, but educated stewards of our precious coast will be created.
eelgrass seedsThe goal of this proposed project is to develop a cultivation program in which local schools can determine the best methods for growing eelgrass in a polyculture recirculating system while promoting the awareness of eelgrass and its importance to the health of Gulf of Maine. Classrooms will also serve as an integral partner to a statewide seagrass management initiative, including restoration planning, by providing plants to be replanted in our local waters.
Balance Between Humans and Nature: Eelgrass
- Determine appropriate growing techniques and polyculture recirculating systems for eelgrass cultivation in the classroom
- Develop a year round program in schools for students to learn about the life history, biology, ecology and cultivatation methodology of eelgrass
- Produce a "How To" manual on growing eelgrass as part of a polyculture recirculating aquaculture system.
- Foster a relationship with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management seagrass program, particularly the Eelgrass Habitat Suitability Project
New!
Download Eelgrass Manual
(3.5 Mb PDF)
