SAV coverage and structural complexity (shoot density, above-ground biomass and canopy height) for some widespread seagrass communities of Chwaka Bay were estimated during December 2002. The field measurements were performed in six meadows dominated by either Enhalus acoroides (three sites) or Thalassia hemprichii (three sites), and one mixed meadow mainly composed of E. acoroides, T. hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum and bare sediment (for positions see the satellite image from 2003 in Fig. 2). The selected meadows (except the mixed meadow) were chosen in order to represent homogeneous and dense meadows of the bay. The field data set from 2002 was used to generally describe the most dominant seagrass communities of the bay and also to compare well-quantified seagrass habitats with spectral signatures derived from satellite remote sensing.