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The first step in seed-based eelgrass restoration is the collection of seeds. To do this, SCUBA divers swim through eelgrass beds looking for reproductive shoots. Eelgrass reproduces sexually and vegetatively so not all eelgrass plants produce seeds that can be used for restoration. Reproductive shoots are easy to detect. They grow much longer than non-reproductive shoots and they are also more branched. Divers need only collect the upper portions of the plants as seeds are located higher up on the stems. When the diver is ready, the plants are brought to a waiting boat, where they will be kept in the shade until transported to shore.

At the lab, the reproductive eelgrass shoots are stored in a holding tank until the seeds are released. A screen allows everything but the bulkiest matter to drain from the tank into a filter bag. The smaller vegetative matter and seeds are filtered again until only seeds and small debris are left in the second barrel. This matter is rinsed repeatedly until only eelgrass seeds remain. The seeds are then placed in aeration tanks where they are kept oxygenated, and seawater keeps the seeds at ambient temperature and salinity until the planting phase begins.

So that the seeds will be more manageable, they are mixed with gelatin. A specialized pump then pushes the mixture to a custom-made planting device, seen here in a laboratory tank. Beneath the surface of the water, the four tines can be seen carving shallow furrows into the sediment. A closer look shows the grains of rice – substituting for eelgrass seeds – being deposited into the furrows. A weighted flange at the back of the planting device then covers the furrows, burying the seeds in the sediment.