Seagrass populations are declining worldwide (Orth et al. 2006), and in New York’s marine waters alone, as much as 75%-90% of our native seagrass, eelgrass (Zostera marina), has been lost since 1930. Some hypothesized causes of the decline include the “wasting disease”, recent harmful algal blooms such as brown tide, reduced water quality, boating/fishing/shellfishing activities and rising water temperatures. Recognizing the importance of seagrasses to the health of local waters, the resources they support , and the subsequent need to research, monitor, and restore these valuable habitats, on July 26th 2006 Governor Pataki enacted Chapter 404 of the Laws of 2006, establishing a Seagrass Task Force within the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The NYS Seagrass Task Force consists of five voting members and ten non-voting members (see list below) and is charged with developing and presenting a seagrass management plan and recommendations to the Governor and state officials by December 31, 2008. (For more info, please contact Karen Chytalo of the NYSDEC Bureau of Marine Resources 631.444.0430.)

View List of Seagrass Taskforce Members (.pdf)

View NYS Senate Legislation (.pdf)

new! Seagrass Task Force Threats Assessment (.pdf)

New York Seagrass Experts Meeting

In an effort to support the development of efficient and effective management recommendations for seagrass habitat, the NYSDEC and other partnering stakeholders organized a meeting of local and national seagrass experts to identify research priorities and information gaps that should be filled. This “New York Seagrass Experts Meeting” was held on Tuesday May 22nd, 2007 in East Setauket, NY. The Proceedings and priority recommendations resulting from this meeting are available for viewing below. This effort was supported by NYSDEC, New York Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York Estuary Programs among others.

Seagrass Experts Meeting Attendees (Photo credit: Barbara Branca NY Sea Grant). Meeting Participants (L to R): Front row: Jack Mattice (NY Sea Grant), Bradley Peterson (Stony Brook University), Kenneth Heck, Jr. (University of South Alabama), A. Coolidge Churchill (Adelphi University), J. Kirk Cochran (Stony Brook University), Marci Bortman (The Nature Conservancy). Middle rows: Paul Carlson (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), Christopher Gobler (Stony Brook University), Tom Halavik (US Fish & Wildlife Service), Corey Garza (Long Island Sound Study Office), Chris Pickerell (Cornell Cooperative Extension), Jeffrey Fullmer (South Shore Estuary Reserve Office), Fred Short (University of New Hampshire), Karen Chytalo (NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation), Chris Clapp (The Nature Conservancy), Carol Pesch (US EPA), Kim Petersen (Cornell Cooperative Extension), Laura Stephenson (NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation). Back row: Cornelia Schlenk (NY Sea Grant), Mark Fonseca (NOAA National Ocean Service), William Dennison (University of Maryland), Steve Schott (Cornell Cooperative Extension), Carl LoBue (The Nature Conservancy), Ronald Paulsen (Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services).