A recent trial of oyster baskets at key sites in the Noosa River has demonstrated early signs of success, with juvenile oysters, mussels and numerous other species rapidly colonising clean oyster shells deployed in baskets. The purpose of the trail, undertaken by NICA’s oyster gardening team Alex and Maddi, was to test the durability of the baskets and their capacity to attract wild oysters and other species. A total of 10 baskets were deployed, each containing up to 5kg of washed and recycled oyster shells. NICA in conjunction with researchers from the Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University recently examined the baskets and discovered a plethora of juvenile oysters had already attached to the shells, some up to 15mm, along with juvenile mussels, bryozoans, molluscs, polychaetes, ascidians, crustaceans and fish. The success of the trial to date, a key part of the Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project, augurs well for the launch of the oyster gardening program with local residents shortly.
For more info read here: Noosa Today article
NICA Project Coordinator Alex Western with Griffith University students.