The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC) has announced work is progressing on a new shellfish reef restoration project in the Great Sandy Strait, between Hervey Bay and K’Gari (Fraser Island).
“We are very excited to start working with the local community on restoring intertidal shellfish reefs along the Booral-Urangan coastline,” Craig Bohm, conservation coordinator for TNC, said.
“We are honoured to be working alongside the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, The Queensland Government and local community on this Rock Oyster restoration project.“
Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation Land and Sea Ranger Coordinator Aunty Joy Bonner said she was excited to be collaborating on this project.
“It is important we continue taking steps together in the journey of healing country,“ she said.
“These shellfish reefs are an important part of Butchulla cultural heritage, and it is great to work in partnership on a project restoring our Sea Country.“
The project began in June and will continue until mid-2026. Work is currently underway to assess the health and extent of existing shellfish reefs and to develop local partnerships.
This project aims to deliver shellfish reef restoration within the Great Sandy Strait to help improve biodiversity, water quality and wetland function.
Shellfish reefs are an important coastal habitat that have experienced major declines globally and locally. Shellfish reefs, made from billions of oysters or mussels, once thrived in Australia’s bays and estuaries. Now less than 10 per cent remain.
“Shellfish reefs are a key coastal habitat for Australia’s biodiversity. Our goal is to restore them so they can provide crucial ecosystem services for people and nature, such as improved water quality to the Marine Park,” Megan Connell, seascapes conservation officer for TNC, said.
The Great Sandy Strait Shellfish Reef Restoration Project is a natural follow-on from TNC’s successful Reef Builder program, a partnership with the Australian Government and local agencies which led to the restoration of shellfish reefs in 13 locations from Perth in WA to Noosa between 2021 and 2023.
“This project helps us to keep advancing towards our broader objective of restoring 30 per cent of this lost habitat, or 60 shellfish reefs, across Australia by 2030,” Ms Connell said.
The Great Sandy Strait Shellfish Reef Restoration Project is supported by the Australian Government, as part of the Reef Coastal Restoration Program.
