AUSTRALIA’S fish habitat charity OzFish is increasing its production of shellfish reefs to help the state’s ocean, fish and fisheries recover from the harmful algal bloom, and is calling for the public’s support in the fight.
South Australians are encouraged to join OzFish as member, attend a volunteer event to build or deploy oyster reefs or donate to support scaling up our efforts.
Another major oyster reef building session was held on Tuesday, where volunteers recycled over 12 tonnes of clean oyster shell into reef modules that will be deployed into the water.
Since March, OzFish, who lead the nation’s largest community-led shellfish reef restoration program, has been drawing public attention to the disaster, gathering data to monitor the impacts of the bloom, and determining the best avenues for response.
OzFish South Australia Project Manager Brad Martin said, “We are now focused on boosting recovery and long-term resilience by restoring marine habitats, and by increasing safe places for fish to breed and find food, to give many species the best chance to recover.”
“The most important habitats for fish in South Australia are shellfish reefs – including oyster – seagrass, kelp, mangroves and saltmarsh.”
“Oysters are filter-feeders, which means they filter the water to get their food, and that also helps to remove some algae from the water.”
Following heartening news that oysters are not being harmed by the bloom, OzFish is focussing efforts on oyster reef restoration, and is establishing a shellfish recycling centre in Adelaide.
The recycling centre will be modelled on OzFish’s OysterWorld in Brisbane, where rec fishers reached the milestone of recycling 1 million kilograms of oyster shells in 2025.
Mr Martin said, “We’re hearing from oyster growers, researchers and rec fishers on the ground in bloom impacted areas across SA that oysters are surviving and growing – even described as “being fat and happy!”
“Native flat oysters, or Ostrea angasi, once inhabited over 800 square kilometres, across 1,500 km of coastline in South Australia until the 1950s. Restoring these lost reefs will provide quality fish habitats and filtration that can combat future algal blooms.”
“Now our rec fisher members and staff are building as many recycled-shell reef modules as possible, on stand-by to be deployed into the water as further reef restoration opportunities accelerate in response to the bloom.
“Our OzFish chapters of local rec fishers will also be holding a number of clean-up events to ensure saltmarsh and mangroves in critical fish nursery habitats are thriving, litter and weed free and ready to see baby-fish recruitment as soon as the waters are healthy again.”
Mr Martin encouraged rec fishers and concerned locals to get involved in the work to build resilience into the state’s fish habitat.
“Many of our members are rec fishers, but anyone can join OzFish and get hands-on at one of OzFish events aimed at restoring oyster reefs, at Oyster World or later in the year, with Seagrass for Snapper.”
OzFish rec fisher members have been restoring seagrass in Adelaide’s metro waters for the past five summers, with the help of the community, and intends to continue this work this summer.
“We will be relying on fishers and citizen scientists to help monitor the situation again this year, and hope that sufficient healthy fruit or rhizomes – the roots and stems of seagrass – wash up so we can re-plant it in recovery zones.”
OzFish invites donations from the public at ozfish.org.au/donate/sa-recovery/
OzFish said it is grateful for the support of its major partner BCF.
OzFish CEO Cassie Price said, “Last year, BCF stores in South Australia raised $110,000 that has already contributed to shellfish and seagrass restoration that will provide resilience in response to this algal bloom disaster. Every dollar donated to OzFish through a BCF store in South Australia will be allocated to our work with shellfish, seagrass, mangroves and saltmarsh.”
