Back to Fish Friendly Marine Infrastructure

The issue

Beck et. al (2011) estimates that 85% of oyster reefs have been lost globally. In Australia Beck et. al estimated that 99% of oyster reefs are functionally extinct.

 

Depleted natural oyster reef, North Creek Ballina NSW (image courtesy Pat Dwyer)

 

Overharvesting, poor water quality and sedimentation as a result of catchment clearance, urbanisation and industrial pollution and diseases have negatively impacted on natural oyster reefs and hindered their ability to regenerate. 

 

A single oyster has been measured as filtering 163 litres of water a day (Riisgard 1988). Imagine the effect millions of oysters as part of a reef could achieve! Thanks to the Florida Oceanographic Society, watch oysters filtering a tank of water here and here.

 

   

Oysters filtering muddy water (left): Florida Oceanographic Society and algae walter (right): Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole

 

Oyster reefs wouldn’t only improve water quality, but they provide habitat for other invertebrates, and fish and can also protect shorelines from erosion.

 

Oyster reef restoration projects have been undertaken with great success overseas, particularly in the USA.

 

Oyster reef restoration in USA – North Carolina Beakon Island

 

In Australia, projects to reinstate this lost habitat type are occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia thanks to groups like The Nature Conservency, OceanWatch Australia and NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries).

 

Oceanwatch Australia "Living Shorelines" project

 

Back to Fish Friendly Marine Infrastructure

Organisation	NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries)
Contact	Scott Nichols ph:(02) 6626 1396 e: [email protected]
Funding Body	NSW Environmental Trust