2019-12-10 P&E Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 1 - NBRF Annual Report 2018-19

Natural reefs were designed and built by USC using old oyster shells in bags that would decompose overtime as the reef
settled and bonded. These reefs were constructed to be both good oyster structure and attractive fish habitats.

Fourteen sites were chosen and reefs, each consisting of 9 bags, were installed. The plan was to measure progress
twice each year for three years. It was clear that these were going to be a success after only 18 months. Oyster
settlement and growth were very good and consolidation of the reefs worked well. This was sufficient success to initiate
planning for the implementation phase.

Unfortunately, boating traffic seems to have significantly damaged 10 of the reefs despite extensive signage and marker
buoys. This damage correlated with the Christmas/New Year boating peek and we suspect that it resulted from an
awareness that the reefs were attracting fish in large numbers. Fortunately sufficient evidence of success had been
achieved so that the next phase could be initiated. Obviously reef design and marking needs to be changed to avoid
future damage.

Monitoring will continue on the remaining 4 sites to meet the permit requirements of three years recording. Also, in line
with the permits, the damaged 10 sites were removed.

From the NBRF perspective, this project has achieved its research and piloting objectives.

Noosa Council and The Nature Conservancy have agreed to jointly fund a $2.4m project to fully implement oyster reefs
in the Noosa River based on the NBRF pilot project.

We see this as a wonderful example of the development and implementation of a “big idea”.

As part of the future program, we have included a joint project with Griffith University to look at what oyster species are
present in the Noosa River. Griffith have undertaken such a study in Moreton Bay. Oyster diversity is seen as a major
issue in constructing a resilient population given the history of oyster disease. Interestingly, historically, Noosa oysters
were dredged and taken to Moreton Bay for fattening. It will be interesting side issue to identify if Moreton Bay oysters
are really Noosa oysters!


                                          USC OYSTER REEF PILOT PROJECT

      NBRF FUNDING                   CASH & IN-KIND                 PROJECT VALUE                      LEVERAGE

          $283,500                        $746,500                      $1,030,000                          3:6




BBTF : PRAWNS

The University of Queensland under Professor Greg Skilliter was chosen to help with this project.

The aim is to understand what key actions can be taken to bring back the prawn population in the Noosa River.

Apparently, the prawns feed on the macro-invertebrates in the “Benthic” layer at the top of the river bed. Many ingenious
small creatures live in this layer and prawns dig into this to find their food.

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