Members of OzFish Lake Macquarie Chapter are bringing an innovative shellfish restoration project to Australia’s largest saltwater tidal waterway. OzFish will work with private jetty owners to install environmentally friendly hanging habitat to help restore vitally important shellfish reefs to ...
OzFish’s innovative ‘Pimp My Jetty’ program aims to increase the availability of fish in Sydney Harbour by transforming existing jetties and pontoons into vibrant fish habitat. The Sydney Harbour Chapter plan to design, build, and monitor eco-friendly structures that will create additional ...
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. The project is funded by City of Gold Coast 2022/23 Catchment and Citizen Science Grants ...
OzFish’s innovative ‘Pimp My Jetty’ program is helping to return shellfish habitat to the Peel-Harvey estuary, near Mandurah in Western Australia and address an important ecological challenge. The project brings together recreational fisher volunteers and the local community to restore healthy ...
The project to restore the once magnificent shellfish beds of the Pumicestone Passage is underway. Less than 5% of shellfish reefs remain in the area and human intervention is needed to prevent further decline and support the underwater ecosystem. Recreational fishers, community organisations ...
An important part of our marine ecosystem is shellfish reefs, sadly, they are critically endangered, with 99% of shellfish reefs functionally extinct within Australia. Shellfish reefs are declining due to sediment runoff and human impacts such as pollution, overharvesting and reef dredging for shells. This not only reduces shellfish numbers but also takes away the hard substrate they need to re-establish naturally. Basically, they can’t multiply if they have nowhere to anchor.
It’s not all bad news though, with mammoth efforts being undertaken by conservation groups, businesses, communities, and everyday Aussies to restore our reefs to their former glory. It is an ongoing project that will take many years to accomplish, but so far, the results are promising.
Shellfish reefs are living vertical structures, found in bays, estuaries, and nearshore coastal waters. These complex structures are made up of millions of shellfish, including mussels, oysters, pipis, and cockles. They form a hard substrate by clustering together and attaching to older shells, rocks, piers, or any rigid, submerged surface.
Fish and other aquatic life rely on shellfish reefs for habitat, providing places where they can shelter, breed, and source food. They are also a natural filter, improving water clarity and promoting the growth of seagrass. These benefits create better fishing, with every hectare of living shellfish reef able to produce an additional 2.5 tonnes of harvestable fish per year.
The restoration efforts take advantage of oysters’ natural tendency to grow together in clumps. One method involves collecting recycled oyster shells, and after a period of sanitation, placing them in degradable mesh baskets that are deployed in the water.
This creates a natural hard surface for baby oysters to attach, with one shell housing up to 10 baby oysters, now that’s a lot of mouths to feed!
The following are some ways OzFish and its volunteers are positively contributing to shellfish reef restoration:
Join our community of volunteers who share our determination to restore Shellfish Reefs across Australia.
Donate today to support our mission to restore oyster reefs through community-driven participation and ownership.
Help us raise funds for our restoration initiatives by becoming an OzFish member today. Learn more about member benefits!
Our shellfish reefs require ongoing maintenance, so both the fish that call them home and the communities that enjoy them can thrive. You can be part of giving back by making a donation to the Shellfish Revolution Project today.
The Shellfish Revolution Project provides a portable habitat restoration hub, that makes it possible to regenerate as much of a waterway’s catchment area as possible, not just those areas where humans congregate.
The ongoing success of the Shellfish Revolution Project will rely on the continuing engagement of local stakeholders to ensure the region’s individuals, groups and organisations can take ownership of the health of their shellfish reefs.