Shellfish Reefs revitalisation

The first series of the Port Phillip Bay shellfish reefs restoration project begun in March 2017 and was completed in November 2018. The project is a partnership between the Victorian Government, The Nature Conservancy and the Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club, which aims to revitalise shellfish reefs in Port Phillip. Shellfish reefs are one of the world’s most threatened marine habitats and once covered up to 50 per cent of Port Phillip Bay’s seafloor.

The project has utilised limestone rubble and recycled shell from Victoria’s restaurant industry to construct the reefs near Geelong and St Kilda, which were selected due to their suitability as they were originally home to shellfish reefs at the time of colonisation.

More reefs, at Dromana and 9ft Bank near Geelong, were completed in early 2021, bringing the total to 12 hectares of reefs being revitalised. You can read more about TNC's work here.

The project restored shellfish reefs at 9ft Bank in the Geelong Arm by deploying 100 cubic metres of recycled shells from restaurants and the seafood industry.

The new reefs at Dromana, St Kilda and Wilson Spit were seeded with approximately 3 million oysters and 6 tonnes of blue mussels, which will attract a diversity of fish and aquatic life.

Shellfish reefs provide nursery habitat and over time will boost fish numbers, clean water and enhance marine biodiversity, which is good news for the environment and recreational fishers who frequent Port Phillip. The bay is home to vibrant snapper, whiting, calamari and flathead fisheries, all of which benefit from the reefs.

Each year, one hectare of oyster reef;

• Filters 2.7 billion litres of sea water
• Removes 275kg of Nitrogen and Phosphate
• Produces 375kg of fish
• Is home to over 100 marine species
• Recycles 100 m³ of shell

Corner coordinates for the reefs are listed below.