Until the start of the 20th century, Australia was home to vast shellfish reefs, stretching across the southern half of the country, and as far north to at least the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and up to the mid-west coast of Western Australia.
These reefs have been largely decimated by wild commercial harvest, sedimentation, water pollution, introduced species and disease, the natural shellfish reefs have virtually disappeared.
The disappearance of these reefs from much of Australia’s coastline has changed how the coastal ecosystems function, with a host of negative flow-on effects such as reduced water quality, fish abundance, natural shoreline protection, livelihoods and socio-cultural connection to our waterways.
The Nature Conservancy is rebuilding Australia’s lost shellfish reef ecosystems
Since 2015, TNC has been leading the journey towards restoration by establishing the Great Southern Seascapes program.
Following COVID, TNC Australia and the Australian Government formed a partnership to deliver Australia’s largest marine initiative to date.
“Reef Builder” was a $20 million program that sought not only to restore near-extinct shellfish reefs at 13 project geographies across southern Australia, but also to provide much needed economic stimulus to regional and metropolitan economies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and those devastated by the 2019 bushfires.
Delivered between 2021 and 2023, Reef Builder has restored over 40 hectares of lost shellfish reefs across 13 projects spanning Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.
Visit our Australia website to read more on the Reef Builder program and the restoration work and each of the 13 sites, plus news of new reef restoration work.
More stories in Australia
The Hidden History of Australian Oyster Reefs
New research from TNC scientists draws on the historical record to map the former extent of Australian shellfish reefs.
Reef Cam underwater live feed
Watch live! Discover the incredible marine life in Port Phillip Bay from under the sea direct to your screen.
Restoring shellfish reefs
Shellfish reefs are Australia’s most critically endangered marine ecosystem. Made up of billions of oysters and mussels, they once thrived in Australia’s bays and estuaries from Noosa in Queensland right around Australia’s southern coastline to Perth in Western Australia. Now less than 10% remain.