Local knowledge systems are not considered in the conservation of fragile seagrass marine ecosystems. In fact,
little is known about the utility of seagrasses in local coastal communities. This is intriguing given that some local
communities rely on seagrasses to sustain their livelihoods and have relocated their villages to areas with a rich
diversity and abundance of seagrasses. The purpose of this study is to assist in conservation efforts regarding
seagrasses through identifying Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from local knowledge systems of seagrasses
from 40 coastal communities along the eastern coast of India.