![]() Razorfish provide a natural surface for oyster larvae to settle on, including the native flat oyster found around Kangaroo Island. Ceramic and terracotta tile ‘razor forms’ have been recreated to mimic the real razorfish that are found in Nepean Bay. The limestone rubble and oyster shells will be used as a base for the reef, with the other materials placed amongst them. These materials have been sourced locally, or are recycled, and they include oyster shells from The Oyster Farm Shop in American River. The reefs will be made of limestone, oyster shells, terracotta tiles, ceramic forms and timber, to provide a substrate for marine organisms to settle and grow on. They will be placed in bare sand close to seagrass and rocky reefs to connect these productive coastal habitats for fish and invertebrates. Each reef will be 100 m² in size and will be 3–4 m deep. What are we doing to restore shellfish reefs?Ĭonstruction of the small, low-profile reefs will begin in early 2022 in waters adjacent to Kingscote and American River. This project aims to restore this lost substrate so native oysters can settle and reinstate the lost benefits of this ecological community. The remaining oyster shell was then dredged and used in construction, leaving no substrate on the seabed for new oyster larvae to settle and grow on. Native flat oyster ( Ostrea angasi) reefs were once widespread across southern Australia, including throughout Nepean Bay on Kangaroo Island, but were fished to near-extinction over a century ago. This project is supported by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program: Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program. Over time, the reefs are expected to grow and support the natural settlement of native flat oysters, and connect to form a continuous reef habitat. The artificial reefs will be seeded with local, native flat oyster spat that will be wild-caught from within the bay. These low-profile artificial reefs will be constructed using limestone, recycled shell, timber modules, terracotta tile and ceramic razorfish forms. The reefs will provide important habitat for premium recreational fishing species and contribute to a national initiative to restore shellfish reefs. This project is constructing 20 small, native flat oyster shellfish reefs close to Kingscote and American River to restore the health and function of these important shellfish and fish habitats. Monitoring fish and shellfish life on the new reefs.Collecting native oyster spat to seed these reefs.What are we doing to restore shellfish reefs?.The history of native flat oyster reefs. ![]()
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