Herbivore exclusion as a tool for seagrass restoration: Evidence from research and practice in a sub-tropical estuary

Herbivory can significantly limit seagrass restoration success, leading practitioners to explore the use of exclusion devices to reduce grazing pressure during transplant establishment. To evaluate the performance and practical application of these devices, we combined a quantitative meta-analysis of published studies across the wider Caribbean and tropical Atlantic with a survey of restoration practitioners implementing herbivore exclusion in Florida. Although the use of exclusion devices has gained traction in recent years, often driven by small-scale pilot projects and anecdotal observations, peer-reviewed evidence evaluating their effectiveness remains limited. The synthesis revealed no significant difference in seagrass performance or survival between caged and control treatments, largely due to low sample size. In contrast, practitioner responses underscored support for the effectiveness of exclusion devices, while also identifying recurring challenges. Collectively, our findings highlight the need for large-scale, hypothesis-driven studies employing standardized methodologies to rigorously evaluate the role of herbivory exclusion in seagrass restoration. By linking empirical analysis with practitioner perspectives, this current work provides a foundation for designing, evaluating, and reporting on herbivore exclusion approaches that may improve the standardization and success of future seagrass restoration efforts.