Work on a native shellfish reef off the Adelaide coastline is expected to begin in September after Glenelg was announced as the location this week.
The two-hectare reef is the second large-scale reef system to be developed in South Australia’s Gulf St Vincent to improve water quality and revive wild native oyster populations. The location, one of Adelaide’s most popular beaches, was chosen ahead of O’Sullivan Beach and Port Noarlunga after scientific advice and public consultation.
South Australian Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs, said that more than 1500 responses were received during the community consultation stage of the selection process, reflecting the strong public support for the project.
“In the end Glenelg was chosen as it offers suitable environmental conditions as well as the opportunities for the community, with such good public transport and beach access to the area,” he said.
Oyster reefs are considered the temperate water equivalent to coral reefs in tropical waters. Australia’s southern coastline was home to thousands of kilometres of oyster reefs before European settlement but dredging to remove substrate for lime production and the harvesting of oysters for food wiped out all the reefs except for one off the coast of Tasmania.
Adult native oysters can filter more than 100 litres of water a day and excrete a mucus-like substance that is rich in nutrients and provides food for small shellfish that in turn provide food for larger fish.
