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A reef restoration project led by University of Adelaide researchers is to be expanded across South Australia to learn how we can address the ongoing algal bloom, with new funding announced by the South Australian Government.听

The pilot restoration project at Coffin Bay in South Australia is set to be rolled out at 25 sites along the State鈥檚 coastlines. 听

The University of Adelaide鈥檚 Dr Dominic McAfee, who is a Future Making Fellow from the Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, conducts research into restoring lost marine ecosystems, specifically shellfish reefs.听

鈥淲ith the help of local school students and conservation volunteers our project has been able to restore native oysters by constructing shell reefs around Coffin Bay,鈥� said Dr McAfee.听

鈥淣ative oysters are very important for the marine environment.鈥疧ysters are filter feeders that consume phytoplankton and other small algae suspended in the water, and this includes some types of algae blooms.鈥澨�

The SA Government has announced a project to support community-led reef restorations on Kangaroo Island and at sites across the Eyre and Yorke Peninsula over the next three years.听

"In South Australia, native oyster communities have been brought back within three years of reefs being constructed, after more than a century of functional extinction,鈥� said Dr McAfee.听

鈥淥ysters open their shells and draw water across their gills, filtering out microscopic algae and other particles for food.听

鈥淭he current algal blooms has been lethal to many filtering bivalves, but the native oysters appear to have a level of resilience to the bloom.鈥澨�

The algal bloom in South Australia was first noticed in鈥痬id-March鈥痶his year when surfers and beachgoers on the Fleurieu Peninsula reported falling ill after exposure to seawater.鈥疶he bloom was later identified as being caused by various species of 鈥疜arenia algae, among other harmful algal species. 听

鈥淗armful algal blooms (HABs) can produce toxins that can accumulate in shellfish, including oysters. The oysters can purge the toxins once the algae reduces, and the oyster industry monitors farmed oysters closely to ensure they are safe to sell,鈥� said Dr McAfee.听

鈥淭he native oysters that would grow on the new reef restorations are being restored for their ecological benefits like water filtration. They are not to be harvested for food.鈥澨�

In recognition of its on-the-ground impact, Dr McAfee and conservation group EyreLab were recently awarded a $20,000 grant from the Australian Geographic Society to support his project.听