Australian scientists have long thought oyster reefs thrived solely in temperate regions, but research has shown that they're also a significant part of ecosystems in the tropical north. So they're now being harnessed in the fight to save the Great Barrier Reef.
00:00Along the Russell River in far north Queensland, a small marine creature is making a comeback.
00:08So what we have here is a robust oyster basket.
00:12Each cage holds a combination of live oysters and empty shells.
00:17The long term goal is to demonstrate that water quality has improved sufficiently for us to be able to increase the oyster numbers or oyster biomass in the system.
00:28Traditional owners and researchers say the shellfish reefs once covered the area, keeping marine health in check.
00:35It used to protect the mangrove system in particular from erosion.
00:39They also provide significant water quality improvement and habitat.
00:44Oysters filter litres of water a day.
00:47Their disappearance has led to erosion and reduced water quality along the banks of the river.
00:52But now they're being brought back in a bid to help the Great Barrier Reef by improving the health of nearby marine environments.
00:59What we're trying to do is we're trying to reinstate that using nature based solutions.
01:06Once thought to only be found in southern waters, Griffith University researchers have discovered the shellfish reefs once existed all along the northern coast.
01:15And the discovery is a game changer for marine restoration.
01:19They can either be quite small in size fringing along sort of the banks of estuaries or they can stretch out for hectares.
01:26Being able to be part of a project that's going to try and restore those oysters back and see the environment start to heal itself is really, really exciting and rewarding to be part of.
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