Home / Projects / Shellfish Revolution / Pimp My Jetty – Peel-Harvey WA

The Shellfish Revolution in WA

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 habitat that supports native fish and benefits all.

51

Jetties ‘pimped’

60

hanging shellfish
habitats installed

50

volunteer hours
delivered

The challenge

The marine ecosystem in the Peel-Harvey estuary has been negatively impacted by an excess of nutrients which has led to an increase in growth of microorganisms. These microorganisms, particularly filamentous algae, covers hard surface areas in the water and makes it very difficult for local shellfish to attach themselves and inhabit the area.

This means less shellfish, including mussels, particularly in local canals where the tidal flow is not as strong and the algae becomes thicker. Less mussels impacts the diet of native fish, including the black bream.

Research shows mussels once made up 64 per cent of black bream’s diet in the area but that is now as low as 19 per cent, with the fish more reliant on algae as a food source. This represents a shift from a high-calorie diet to an algae-based diet.

Healthy mussel stocks are an essential part of aquatic food webs, but also filter pollutants and nutrients from the water, to improve the overall health of the waterway. More mussels means more fish.

An innovative way to support native fish and improve water quality

Jetties are a common site along the waterways of the Peel-Harvey estuary and provide great host sites for reintroducing shellfish to the area.

OzFishs Pimp My jetty project involves hanging natural fibre ropes from the jetties as a way of attracting and fostering new shellfish growth. This, in turn, creates a source of food for fish and improves the water quality, so creating a healthy habitat.

Check out this video to see an example of what the hanging vertical structures will eventually grow into.

OzFish engaged the local community of private and public jetty owners to get involved and agree to host a shellfish habitat under their jetty. More than 60 owners signed up and OzFish volunteers set to constructing, installing and monitoring the new ec-friendly habitats across the area.

The natural fibres of the rope provide an ideal surface for mussel larvae and for maturing mussels to grow on. As more mussels create homes on the new hanging habitats, it will lead to more mussel spat in the estuary and help to revive the once thriving shellfish population.

That increased high-quality food source will support black bream and other native fish numbers, achieving OzFish’s goal of better habitats for better fishing.

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Latest News on Pimp My Jetty

26 OCTOBER 2022 | Jetty owners boost shellfish numbers in Western Australia

Private jetty owners in the Peel-Harvey estuary, near Mandurah, are playing a key role in helping us to boost shellfish numbers and support native fish populations in the region. We engaged members of the local community, including more than 50 jetty owners, to get directly involved in our innovative habitat restoration initiative. Called ‘Pimp My Jetty’, it involved owners agreeing to host a hanging shellfish habitat under their private jetty. OzFish volunteers then constructed and installed eco-friendly hanging habitats, made of natural rope, at 51 jetties across the area.

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11 FEBRUARY 2022 | Peel Harvey Jetties to be Pimped as OzFish Amps up Fish Habitat Projects in the Peel-Harvey Region

Private jetties and pontoons in the Peel Harvey region in WA are set to be the focus of a innovative fish habitat project as fishing conservation charity OzFish Unlimited launches their latest shellfish restoration project. Fittingly titled ‘PIMP MY JETTY’, the project will see vertically hanging, natural fibre rope attached to the jetties as a way of attracting and fostering native shellfish growth that can improve the jetty’s fish productivity. The project was developed as a potential solution to provide habitat in areas that typically have sub-sufficient structures for the local fish populations.