Ground breaking Victorian project expands to Western Australia

Published on: 28th September 2015

The Nature Conservancy Australia’s (TNC) Great Southern Seascapes shellfish reef restoration program began as an Australia first pilot in Port Phillip Bay October 2014. It has now spread right across the country to Albany, Western Australia.

The Nature Conservancy Australia has partnered with Recfishwest, University of Western Australia and South Coast Natural Resource Management to embark on an ambitious project to bring back the oyster reefs to Oyster Harbour in Albany, Western Australia.

Oyster reefs were once a thriving and abundant part of the Oyster Harbour underwater seascape, providing habitat for fish, filtering water and capturing nutrients. Sadly, like in many bays and estuaries across Australia, Oyster Harbour’s abundant oyster reefs have been lost.

Professor Peter Cook, Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia highlighted some reasons that have contributed to the loss of the reefs. “Albany’s regional shellfish reefs, particularly those in Oyster Harbour were once highly productive habitats, but were virtually gone by the late 1800’s, probably due to heavy dredge-fishing, although pollution and disease may also have contributed to their decline.”

This project which will be the first of its kind in WA, aims to identify and restore oyster reefs to help to improve recreational fishing, biodiversity and water quality in Oyster Harbour. 

Working with the community, the project will develop a baseline understanding of historical and current oyster populations in order to guide future restoration efforts.

Oyster HarbourOyster Harbour

Native flat oysters will be raised at Frenchman Bay hatchery in Albany. During the spawning stage, millions of oyster larvae will be released and settle on recycled bivalve shells.  The larvae are then left to grow into juvenile oysters for a 3-6 month period on commercial farming leases.  During the early growth stage our team will lay substrate of limestone or surplus farm mussel shells onto the seafloor to provide a foundation for the juveniles to be placed and grow into reefs.

Utilizing experience developed from oyster restoration both internationally and in Victoria, the project will trial different approaches to restoring southern mud or native flat oyster (Ostrea angasi) reefs, with the goal of moving to large-scale restoration activities from 2017.

This project was made possible by the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund and The Nature Conservancy Australia and supported by WA museum, Recfishwest and the WA Department of Fisheries.

Link of web: http://www.natureaustralia.org.au/2015/09/ground-breaking-victorian-project-expands-to-western-australia/

Summary:
The Nature Conservancy Australia’s (TNC) found Great Southern Seascapes shellfish has been declined in recent years. They began reef restoration program as an Australia first pilot in Port Phillip Bay October 2014. It has now spread right across the country to Albany, Western Australia.

Professor Peter Cook told us the reason why the reefs declined and working with the community, the project will develop a baseline understanding of historical and current oyster populations in order to guide future restoration efforts.

Note:
1;The Nature Conservancy Australia’s (TNC) Great Southern Seascapes shellfish reef restoration program has began.

2:An ambitious project to bring back the oyster reefs to Oyster Harbour in Albany, Western Australia
personal reflection.

3:Sadly, Oyster Harbour’s abundant oyster reefs have been lost.

4:Professor Peter Cook said: due to heavy dredge-fishing, although pollution and disease were the main reason that regional shellfish reefs decline.

5:Working with the community, the project will develop a baseline understanding of historical and current oyster populations in order to guide future restoration efforts.

Personal reflection: Seascapes shellfish and other sea resources is the most resources to Australia, Every person live in Australia have the duty to protect the beauty sea. So all effort to protect the sea environment should be encourage. we should ban the behavior of ruin the natural resources.