Seagrass ecosystems are vital for coastal protection, biodiversity, supporting fisheries, and carbon sequestration. Despite their ecological importance, global anthropogenic factors and climate change threaten seagrass meadows. Restoring seagrass is challenging, particularly with seed-based methods that aim to preserve genetic diversity while minimising impacts on donor meadows. This study examines seed dormancy and germination in fast-growing seagrass species with persistent seed banks to enhance restoration methods. Seeds of Halophila ovalis from the Swan River Estuary were assessed for dormancy-breaking methods through mechanical, temperature, and salinity scarification, and evaluated for germination under different light-spectrum exposures. Findings show that Halophila ovalis seeds exhibit both physical and physiological dormancy. Mechanical and salinity scarification can effectively overcome physical dormancy and shorten the dormancy period. Seed germination is stimulated by physiological cues such as water temperature and light conditions. These results provide insights into the ecological and physiological factors influencing seagrass seed dormancy breaking and germination. This information supports the development of more effective seed-based restoration techniques for tropical seagrasses. Further studies on other tropical seagrass seeds with similar traits, such as Halodule sp., along with the optimisation of seed dormancy-breaking and germination methods, should assess the applicability of a seed-based approach in real-world seagrass restoration projects.