Back

SA Government and TNC partner to build large-scale shellfish reef as part of algal bloom recovery

The Nature Conservancy Australia

The Nature Conservancy Australia is proud to partner with the South Australian Government to deliver a large-scale shellfish reef to support the state’s ocean recovery and resilience in response to the algal bloom.

The new reef, built out of limestone rock, will span hundreds of metres of sea floor on the Yorke Peninsula, with its exact location and size guided by input from scientists, Traditional Owners, the oyster industry and local communities. Once established the reef will be home to native oysters with a single adult oyster filtering up to 100 litres of water per day, improving water quality, and providing habitat for other marine species. 

Lara Gallagher, Country Director at The Nature Conservancy Australia, welcomed the partnership as another step towards restoring historical native reefs that were lost by the early 1900s due to dredging and overharvest.

“Shellfish reefs are ecological powerhouses, fuelled by the humble oyster. Rebuilding these important ecosystems restores the many benefits – improved water clarity and quality, providing vital habitat for hundreds of marine species and bolstering fish populations.”

With more than 30 years of global expertise in shellfish reef restoration, TNC will apply best-available science, using restoration suitability modelling and fine-scale habitat mapping, to select the optimal location between Ardrossan and Stansbury for the reef, and will work with the Narungga Traditional Owners, local communities and the oyster industry to develop the reef.

Garry Goldsmith, Narungga representative said, “The Narungga Nations Aboriginal Corporation and Narungga community are very pleased of the commitment to restore part of the natural ecosystem that our people have utilised for thousands of years. This project underpins our core values of caring for country and will provide further opportunities to our Narungga and wider Yorke Peninsula community. We look forward to working with all stakeholders throughout this project to ensure its success.”

“Our national reef restoration program Reef Builder was recognised as a World Restoration Flagship by the United Nations in late 2025, which acknowledges TNC’s pioneering restoration-science expertise to rebuild these reefs at the scale required to help our oceans recover and build resilience,” said Dr Eddie Game, Lead Scientist at The Nature Conservancy Asia-Pacific.

 

The Nature Conservancy has already restored four shellfish reefs in South Australia, forming strong partnerships with the South Australian government, philanthropic and corporate partners, Traditional Owner groups and coastal communities. 

 

“Since 2018, our work across South Australia has seen reefs restored at Windara (Ardrossan), Glenelg, O’Sullivan Beach and Kangaroo Island. Monitoring shows these reefs have become self-sustaining ecosystems within only a few years,” Dr Game said.

The project is part of the Algal Bloom Summer Plan, a $102.5 million recovery plan funded by the state and federal governments to support healthy oceans and local industries like tourism and recreational fishing. The reef is anticipated to begin construction in late 2027, following full consultation, with initial planning to begin in early 2026.

(ends)

About us:

About The Nature Conservancy Australia

The Nature Conservancy helps people and nature thrive by protecting and restoring ecosystems at scale. Guided by science, we focus on getting things done efficiently and with the greatest positive impact for conservation. We’re a trusted organisation working in more than 83 countries and territories on innovative solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in Australia, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact details:

Supporting images and video footage can be downloaded here

For media enquiries, contact Laura Jade [email protected] and 0400 170 663.