McKenzie L. J. auteur aut IRD Yoshida R. L. auteur aut IRD Aini J. W. auteur aut IRD Andréfouët Serge auteur aut IRD Colin P. L. auteur aut IRD Cullen-Unsworth L. C. auteur aut IRD Hughes A. T. auteur aut IRD Payri Claude auteur aut IRD Rota M. auteur aut IRD Shaw C. auteur aut IRD Skelton P. A. auteur aut IRD Tsuda R. T. auteur aut IRD Vuki V. C. auteur aut IRD Unsworth R. K. F. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Seagrass ecosystems exist throughout Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Despite this area covering nearly 8% of the global ocean, information on seagrass distribution, biogeography, and status remains largely absent from the scientific literature. We confirm 16 seagrass species occur across 17 of the 22 PICTs with the highest number in Melanesia, followed by Micronesia and Polynesia respectively. The greatest diversity of seagrass occurs in Papua New Guinea (13 species), and attenuates eastward across the Pacific to two species in French Polynesia. We conservatively estimate seagrass extent to be 1446.2 km2, with the greatest extent (84%) in Melanesia. We find seagrass condition in 65% of PICTs increasing or displaying no discernible trend since records began. Marine conservation across the region overwhelmingly focuses on coral reefs, with seagrass ecosystems marginalised in conservation legislation and policy. Traditional knowledge is playing a greater role in managing local seagrass resources and these approaches are having greater success than contemporary conservation approaches. In a world where the future of seagrass ecosystems is looking progressively dire, the Pacific Islands appears as a global bright spot, where pressures remain relatively low and seagrass more resilient. specialized Seagrass Ecosystem services Habitats Threats Resilience Management DPSIR PACIFIQUE MELANESIE MICRONESIE POLYNESIE 036 034 167 112308 [24 p.] 2021 0025-326X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082073 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112308 0025-326X [F B010082073] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010082073 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2021-07/010082073.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2021-07-02 2021-07-02 fdi:010082073 fre