Australia's largest recovery of seagrass is about to begin off the Adelaide coast.
The $1 million project will re-establish seagrass meadows between suburban Glenelg and Semaphore to help protect against seabed erosion and support the marine environment.
South Australian Environment Minister Davie Speirs says one third or 6000 hectares of seagrass off the Adelaide coast has been lost over the past 50 years.
"While we have seen some natural regeneration of seagrass, more needs to be done to increase the seagrass habitat along Adelaide's coast," Mr Speirs said.
"Seagrass is an important buffer for the ocean's wave and current energy to prevent erosion of our nearshore areas.
"It also supports fish populations, biodiversity and good water quality."
The restoration project will use a technique developed in South Australia, which places hessian sacks on the sea floor near seagrass meadows, for young plants to attach to and grow.
The sacks will be placed at up to 15 sites off the metropolitan coast this year with the restoration project to be expanded in 2020.
