Grant recipients Manny Katz and Dominic McAfee have clearly risen to the challenge. So their South Australia branch is launching a three-year project to grow artificial oyster reefs. This effort will help bring back essential marine habitats that have been lost by up to 85 percent over the last 200 years. The project commenced in 2023 following a pivotal phone call from Katz to McAfee, a pioneer in oyster reef restoration in the region. Together, they hope to explore whether it’s possible to bring such depleted reefs back to life.
The project is rooted in the idea that if we can restore native oyster populations, we can make a profound and lasting impact on our marine ecosystems. Native oyster reefs once covered more than 7,000 kilometers of coastline. Sadly, European colonization in the 19th century took a major toll on these critical ecosystems. Katz and McAfee’s work with these oyster restorations looks to turn that tide, adding more reefs and a net benefit to local marine environments.
Construction of Artificial Reefs
The creative method starts with locally-sourced bags of recycled and sanitized Pacific oyster shells. These bags are carefully deployed in areas that have been already selected as prime candidates for restoration. The bags are structured to create a hard surface, which is favorable to native baby angasi oysters. This gives them an easy anchor point to latch onto and expand. Over time, these bags will grow into formations that mimic the now-extinct oyster reefs.
Katz shines a light on the ecological importance of these reefs. He notes that a single adult oyster can filter more than 50 gallons of water every day. This filtration role is incredibly important. It is an important tool in the fight against harmful algal blooms that have affected South Australian waters. These beautiful bivalves provide invaluable benefits – as natural water filters, the oysters can work to improve ecosystems by filtering out excess nutrients.
Recognition and Support
The restoration project has received national attention, winning top honors Award from the Australian Geographic Society. Most recently, it earned a Bronze Tier award along with a $20,000 grant to help fund its continued work. McAfee expressed surprise at the project’s rapid expansion, noting, “I had not foreseen the project growing as large as it has within just a few short years.”
Local environmental advocates have praised the program as a breakthrough first step to targeting more extensive environmental issues. One theme that ran through the many discussions was the deep, tangible sense of progress Katz pointed out. As Chasen put it, “It’s amazing that these habitats are getting the care, funding and support they finally deserve.” He expressed concern about the circumstances that prompted such support: “It sucks that it’s had to come to such an extreme event like the algal bloom to trigger this sort of support.”
The Path Forward
Katz is quick to note that even as the restoration process gets underway, it will be several years before tangible effects from the restoration are visible. We do have our work cut out for us too. It’s time to reestablish these ecosystems to how they used to function naturally, like before colonization,” he said. As to the oysters, he’s encouraged by their resilience, having proved their mettle against the tides of harmful algae.
Experts like Stewart emphasize that restoring these ecosystems isn’t just good for marine life. It helps communities better connect with and engage on environmental issues. Local resident Ms. Goldrick reminded everyone to avoid dwelling so much on the adversity of environmental issues. As she put it, “There’s just so much awful news about our environment. The second, she added, is that people feel helpless to address these things.
