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https://theconversation.com/once-the-fish-factories-and-kidneys-of-colder-seas-australias-decimated-shellfish-reefs-are-coming-back-184063>
"Australia once had vast oyster and mussel reefs, which anchored marine
ecosystems and provided a key food source for coastal First Nations people. But
after colonisation, Europeans harvested them for their meat and shells and
pushed oyster and mussel reefs almost to extinction. Because the damage was
done early – and largely underwater – the destruction of these reefs was all
but forgotten.
No longer. We have learned how to restore these vital reef systems. After a
successful pilot in 2015, there are now 46 shellfish reef restorations underway
– Australia’s largest marine restoration program ever undertaken. It’s not a
moment too soon. There’s just one natural reef remaining for the Australian
flat oyster, which is teetering on extinction.
How did shellfish reefs go from forgotten to frontline? Our new research shows
how this historical amnesia was overcome through a national community of
researchers, conservationists, and government and fisheries managers.
This matters, because oysters and mussels are ecological superheroes. As we
restore these reefs, we give local marine life a real boost and support human
livelihoods reliant on healthy seas. These cold-water reefs play a similar role
to coral in tropical seas. They give hiding places and food to baby fish,
filter seawater and defend coastlines against erosion from waves."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
