News Archive

The Project

In a Western Australian first, The Nature Conservancy has partnered with Recfishwest, University of Western Australia and South Coast Natural Resource Management to restore native oyster reefs to Oyster Harbour in Albany, WA.

As its name suggests, Oyster Harbour once thrived with oyster reefs, providing habitat for fish, filtering water and capturing nutrients. Sadly, like in many bays and estuaries across Australia, these reefs were lost more than a century ago. Our project aims to restore native oyster reefs to help improve recreational fishing, biodiversity and water quality.

Commencing in 2017, Stage II of the project will deploy 400m2 of reef seeded with over one million juvenile native Angasi oysters while engaging schools and the community in fish and oyster monitoring. Thanks to an announcement by the Western Australian Minister for Fisheries on 16/12/16, Stage II will receive a $150,000 funding boost from the Recreational Fishing Initiative Fund (RFIF).

Project receives broad support

“This new funding will help progress the project from small-scale trials successfully deployed in mid-2016 to larger, landscape-scale reefs”, said Dr Chris Gillies, Marine Manager at The Nature Conservancy Australia. “At this scale, the reefs over time will become living ecosystems which work just like coral reefs.  Their three-dimensional structure provides food and homes to a range of other species, and importantly, helps grow and produce some of the fish we love to catch and eat”.

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 1800s, probably due to heavy dredge-fishing, although pollution and disease may also have contributed to their decline.”

Recfishwest’s CEO, Dr Andrew Rowland, highlighted the strong recreational fishing support for the project. “Recreational fishers understand that healthy waterways underpin healthy fish stocks and we strongly support protecting and restoring fish habitat which ensures enjoyable experiences for an estimated one third of the population who like to wet a line.”

“As the next stage of the project progresses we will continue to encourage opportunities for local community and stakeholder involvement,” said Dylan Gleave, Coastal, Marine and Water Program Leader, South Coast Natural Resource Management.

“85% of oyster reefs have been lost worldwide making it the most threatened marine habitat on Earth. This disturbing statistic highlights just how important this work is,” added Dr Gillies.

The Process

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 and sterilized bivalve shells. The larvae are then left to grow into juvenile oysters for up to six months on commercial farming leases. During the early growth stage our team will lay a substrate of ironstone or surplus farm mussel shells onto the seafloor to provide a foundation for the juvenile oysters to be placed and grow into reefs.

Further Information

This project was made possible by the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund and The Nature Conservancy Australia and supported by Recfishwest, University of Western Australia, South Coast NRM Inc. and the WA Department of Fisheries. It is part of The Nature Conservancy’s Great Southern Seascapes program and is one of several oyster reef restoration projects initiated by The Nature Conservancy across Australia. To find out more, visit our website .

Media references

Tony Jupp , Communications and Marketing Manager, TNC Australia 0428 945 560

Peter Cook , Adjunct Professor, Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, +61 8 9842 0834