Such factors as brown tide, degradation of water quality, channel dredging activities, boat propeller scarring, and shoreline development are identified as contributors to the fragmentation of seagrass beds. Fragmentation of seagrass beds has been attributed to propeller scarring, dredging of navigational channels, and placement of dredged material. Seagrass meadows serve as nursery areas, providing refuge for many commercially and recreationally sought after fish and shellfish. In addition, seagrasses serve as a substrate for attachment of plants and animals, known as epiphytes. These epiphytic organisms provide an important food source for small fish and invertebrates.
Many smaller invertebrates utilize detritus as a food source.
Larger organisms rely on smaller ones for food and sustenance. In addition, the Coastal Bend is part of the American Central flyway and seagrasses are an important food source for many species of migratory waterfowl. In the process, seagrasses utilize and recycle nutrients both in the water column and the sediments. This serves as a buffer for nonpoint source pollution by filtering contaminants from the water and sediment. Central to this effort is a comprehensive approach to maintain water quality.