The invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea continues to thrive in the Caribbean. Don't be surprised if you haven’t heard of it, this is a recent plant to colonize the USVI and it hasn't received a lot of attention from the public. H. stipulate is tenacious and competes efficiently for space with native seagrasses which struggle with man-made threats (anchor dredges, pollution, nutrient run-off). Adding to the problem, few species in the Territory consume it. 

As an NSF funded program designed to stimulate research within the US Virgin Islands Territory, VI-EPSCoR provided funding for five mini-grants in 2017. 

One woman's research into the macroalgae Dictyota spp. may help save coral reefs in the Territory.

Amelie Jensen, graduate student at the University of the Virgin Islands in the Master of Science Marine & Environmental Science program has undertaken the task of investigating carbon storage in seagrass habitats around the Virgin Islands.