Shellfish Reefs revitalisation

The first series of the Port Phillip Bay shellfish reefs restoration project commenced in March 2017 and was completed in November 2018. The project was a partnership between the Victorian Government, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club, which aimed to revitalise shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay. 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 utilised limestone rubble and recycled shell from Victoria’s restaurant industry to construct the reefs near Geelong and St Kilda. These sites 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 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.

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

Shellfish reefs provide nursery habitat and over time 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.

Site Latitude (S) Longtitude (E)
9ft Bank (Geelong)  
9ft Bank Reef 1 38° 6.01872  144° 26.88798
9ft Bank Reef 1 38° 5.97167  144° 26.91462
9ft Bank Reef 1 38° 6.00528  144° 26.97402
9ft Bank Reef 1 38° 6.05233  144° 26.94738
Dromana  
Dromana Reef 1 38° 19.64112  144° 56.991
Dromana Reef 1 38° 19.63373  144° 57.0093
Dromana Reef 1 38° 19.63853  144° 57.01242
Dromana Reef 1 38° 19.64598  144° 56.99412
Dromana Reef 2 38° 19.66452  144° 57.00168
Dromana Reef 2 38° 19.6608  144° 57.01087
Dromana Reef 2 38° 19.6656  144° 57.01398
Dromana Reef 2 38° 19.66932  144° 57.00487
Dromana Reef 3 38° 19.66043  144° 57.03432
Dromana Reef 3 38° 19.65307  144° 57.05262
Dromana Reef 3 38° 19.65787  144° 57.05573
Dromana Reef 3 38° 19.6653  144° 57.03743
Dromana Reef 4 38° 19.63812  144° 57.03683
Dromana Reef 4 38° 19.63073  144° 57.0552
Dromana Reef 4 38° 19.63553  144° 57.05832
Dromana Reef 4 38° 19.64292  144° 57.04002
Dromana Reef 5 38° 19.61898  144° 57.03258
Dromana Reef 5 38° 19.61532  144° 57.0417
Dromana Reef 5 38° 19.62012  144° 57.04488
Dromana Reef 5 38° 19.62383  144° 57.0357
Margaret's Reef (St Kilda)  
Margaret's Reef 3 37° 53.90148  144° 56.71758
Margaret's Reef 3 37° 53.90322  144° 56.7276
Margaret's Reef 3 37° 53.9085  144° 56.7261
Margaret's Reef 3 37° 53.90677  144° 56.71613
Margaret's Reef 4 37° 53.93183  144° 56.79457
Margaret's Reef 4 37° 53.93352  144° 56.80452
Margaret's Reef 4 37° 53.9388  144° 56.80308
Margaret's Reef 4 37° 53.93712  144° 56.79312
Wilson Spit (Geelong)  
Wilson Spit 5 38° 7.14498  144° 30.25908
Wilson Spit 5 38° 7.14342  144° 30.26562
Wilson Spit 5 38° 7.15117  144° 30.26862
Wilson Spit 5 38° 7.15272  144° 30.26208
Wilson Spit 6 38° 7.19287  144° 30.26982
Wilson Spit 6 38° 7.1913  144° 30.27637
Wilson Spit 6 38° 7.20678  144° 30.28237
Wilson Spit 6 38° 7.20833  144° 30.27582
Wilson Spit 7 38° 7.15553  144° 30.30457
Wilson Spit 7 38° 7.15392  144° 30.3111
Wilson Spit 7 38° 7.16172  144° 30.3141
Wilson Spit 7 38° 7.16328  144° 30.30757
Wilson Spit 8 38° 7.18158  144° 30.33953
Wilson Spit 8 38° 7.17997  144° 30.34608
Wilson Spit 8 38° 7.1955  144° 30.35208
Wilson Spit 8 38° 7.19707  144° 30.34553
Wilson Spit 9 38° 7.1235  144° 30.35028
Wilson Spit 9 38° 7.12193  144° 30.35682
Wilson Spit 9 38° 7.13742  144° 30.36282
Wilson Spit 9 38° 7.13903  144° 30.35622