Stage one of Wagonga Inlet Oyster Reef Restoration now complete

Did you know shellfish reefs are one of the world most endangered habitats with an estimated 85% of the world shellfish reefs now gone?

We are doing our bit to bring back shellfish reefs in NSW, with restoration projects taking place at Port Stephens, and more recently Wagonga Inlet at Narooma as part of the Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline (WILS) project.

Recently, stage one of the landmark WILS project was completed with the construction of 1,700 m2 of Sydney Rock Oyster reef habitat in shallow intertidal areas and 1000 m2 of Native Flat Oyster reef habitat in deeper subtidal areas.

The intertidal reefs will be naturally colonised by locally occurring Sydney Rock Oyster spat, while the subtidal reef will be hand seeded with young native Native Flat Oysters in coming months.

Oyster reefs benefit our waterways as they provide habitat for marine life, improve water quality and protect shorelines from wave erosion.

The Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline project is the first restoration of its kind in Australia. Next steps will include foreshore revegetation works, the installation of a boardwalk, kayak ramp, jetty and educational signage. It follows on from our Port Stephens Oyster Reef Restoration project which was finished earlier this year.

The Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline is a collaborative effort between NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries under the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy, Eurobodalla Shire Council, The Nature Conservancy Australia and the Australian Government through its Reef Builder initiative.  

To find out more  information on our Oyster Reef Restoration projects on our website click here.  You can see the recent  DPI Fisheries media release regarding the WILS project here.

Check out the video by our partner The Nature Conservancy Australia explaining the project in more detail.