BCF help to bring back reefs from the brink of extinction
As millions of recreational fishers cast their lines this summer, OzFish Unlimited, a not-for-profit organisation powered by BCF, is working with the same anglers across our waterways to restore vital fish habitat including Australia’s lost shellfish reefs.
Unsung heroes of the nation’s rivers, lakes and estuaries, OzFish empowers anglers to protect and restore the health of their fishing spots.
OzFish dives into 2022 with ambitious goals in every Australian waterway, one of which is to bring Australia’s shellfish reef back from the brink of extinction and lead the nation in community-driven shellfish reef restoration.
OzFish CEO Craig Copeland and BCF Managing Director Paul Bradshaw is the duo behind the restoration drive to motivate more than four million Aussie anglers to get involved.
Mr Copeland warned Australia had already lost more than 90 per cent of its shellfish reefs to a combination of overfishing, habitat destruction and water quality degradation.
Queensland’s iconic Moreton Bay is just one waterway experiencing this loss. Inspired by the work of the “One Billion Oyster Project” in New York Harbour, OzFish’s Central Moreton Bay chapter, one of 48 OzFish chapters nationally, is on a mission to restore 100 hectares of shellfish reef in Moreton Bay over the next 10 years.
Mr Copeland said this project alone had the potential to produce an extra 250 tonnes of fish annually for each hectare of restored reef.
“Shellfish reefs are vital, living ecosystems which make ideal homes, breeding locations and food sources for an array of aquatic life,” he said.
“Additionally, shellfish are nature’s water filters and a typical adult oyster can filter more than 100 litres of water every day.
“Repurposing oyster shells to rebuild shellfish reefs and encourage oyster growth has the potential to filter huge bodies of water, providing exceptional water clarity and healthier waterways and estuaries and promoting seagrass growth.”
OzFish volunteers, powered by BCF, collect discarded oyster shells from farmers, seafood businesses and restaurants each week.
Volunteers at the Oyster Shell Recycling Facility at the Port of Brisbane wash, dry and sterilise these in the sun for up to six months before packing them into biodegradable mesh baskets called ROBS, which are placed at strategic sites for restoration.
The mesh takes roughly two years to break down, giving oysters time to grow and clump together into a natural “reef” of oyster shells and living shellfish.
“Discarded shells are a baby oyster’s favourite surface to grow on, so returning them to waterways supports what nature intended,” Mr Copeland said.
Mr Bradshaw said BCF was proud of its long-standing partnership with OzFish Unlimited and its shared commitment to restoring fish habitats and safeguarding the future of recreational fishing.
“Our customers and team love being near and on the water, so it’s important that we make a meaningful contribution to social and environmental initiatives that benefit our team, customers and the broader community,” Mr Bradshaw said.
“The growth of OzFish and the work achieved is truly remarkable, as is the support we’ve received from BCF customers, not only from putting their hands in their pockets but rolling up their sleeves.
“These volunteers are our customers, so it makes sense that we support their conservation efforts for the future of fishing and the benefit of our planet and humankind.
“Our team, too, gets great satisfaction from joining OzFish’s army of volunteers in lending a hand – collecting and cleaning oyster shells, building ROBs and restoring shellfish reefs.”
OzFish Unlimited, supported by BCF, currently oversees 91 active habitat restoration projects, from seagrass restoration and riparian planting to saltmarsh and shellfish reef restoration.
Its volunteers have delivered an astounding 104,537 hours to improving Australian waterways since 2015.
