Expanding the Shellfish Revolution to the Gold Coast
Members of OzFish Gold Coast Chapter are bringing an innovative shellfish restoration project to Australia’s East Coast. The ‘Pimp My Jetty’ project was originally trialed by OzFish in the Peel-Harvey estuary in Western Australia.
OzFish Gold Coast Chapter will work with 10 private jetty owners to install environmentally friendly hanging habitat to help restore vitally important shellfish reefs to the waterways of the Gold Coast.
‘Pimp’ 10 jetties with hanging shellfish habitat
Deliver four community engagement workshops
Restoring a lost habitat
It is estimated that 95 per cent of shellfish reefs have been lost from across South East Queensland. This has been caused by a number of factors, including overharvesting, siltation, development, and disease.
Shellfish reefs are an essential part of healthy aquatic ecosystems and have a key role to play in filtering pollutants and nutrients from the water, to improve the overall health of a waterway. More shellfish means more fish.
A single oyster can filter up to 180 litres of water every day and also remove sediment, improving the clarity and quality of the water. They can also sequester harmful chemicals such as nitrogen, carbon, and micro plastics.
It is estimated that a hectare of shellfish reef can produce up to 2.5 tonnes more harvestable fish each year.
Returning them to the waterways of the Gold Coast is important to supporting native fish in South East Queensland.
An innovative solution
In 2022, OzFish members in Western Australia trialed a new approach to shellfish restoration – rolling out the Pimp My Jetty initiative.
This involved engaging jetty owners to understand the importance and benefits of having thriving shellfish reefs in their area. More than 50 jetty owners asked to be included in the project.
The ropes are made of natural fibres and over time, as more oysters colonise them, they become complex habitat that provides a wealth of shelter, shade, and food for native fish.
The Gold Coast project is the first time that Pimp My Jetty has been delivered outside of Western Australia, and its expansion mirrors OzFish’s general growth across Australia as it scales up habitat restoration on hundreds of waterways.
Bringing it to the Gold Coast will enhance knowledge of shellfish communities in urbanised and canal areas. Monitoring of the installations will also provide important data than can inform this and other projects elsewhere in Australia.
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The project is funded by City of Gold Coast 2022/23 Catchment and Citizen Science Grants Program, and supported BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
