Sydney Rock Oyster Reef Restoration secures ARC Funding

Associate Professor Paul Gribben is leading a team of collaborators from the Sydney Harbour Research Program (SHRP) at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS); UNSW; University of Sydney; Macquarie University; the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries; the Nature Conservancy; and the SIMS Foundation.  

Professor Gribben said oyster reefs are the corals reefs of temperate ecosystems. They provide coastal areas protection from waves and storms, act as the kidneys of estuaries by filtering excess nutrients and contaminants from the water and provide habitat and nursery grounds for many important species.

But like coral reefs, oyster reefs are dying. Across Australia, more than 90% of oyster reefs have been lost due to pollution and physical extraction for food and lime.

The $330,000 ARC grant will enable Professor Gribben and his collaborators to develop a framework to recover the functionally extinct Sydney Rock Oyster reefs and reinstate their key ecosystem services.

“This project will provide significant benefits, such as the development of key strategic alliances to enhance management of estuaries, and re-establish the environmental, economic and social benefits of oyster reefs,” Professor Gribben said.

The ARC Linkage Project scheme brings together higher education and industry to conduct research into pressing issues affecting Australians