2022-10-24 General Committee Meeting- Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project - Final Report (1)

Rock oyster fact
sheet

See Annex 28




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Rock oyster fact
sheet                                                           THE             SYDNEY                        ROCK                 OYSTER
See Annex 28                                                    (SACCOSTREA                                   GLOMERATA)
                                                                           |
                                                                The Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) is the dominant oyster species in the salty bays and
                                                                inlets of eastern Australia. This remarkable organism can create vast, low oyster beds and high oyster
                                                                MM en eee ee                            ume au ee                   ee        Rema eee ees                   ees
                                                                animals, Historically, oyster ecosystems were a dominant feature of most east coast estuaries, where they
                                                                shaped the ecology, hydrology, and water chemistry. By the early 1900s, oyster ecosystems had become
                                                                functionally extinct. Today, 85% have been lost across Australia and globally, and need help to recover.

                                                                                                             HABITAT
                                                                                                             Found in sheltered temperate to subtropical, saline, and brackish bays and
                                                                                                             estuaries from Wingham Inlet in northern Victoria to Hervey Bay in south east
                                                                                                             Queensland. Endemic to Australia. Attaches to hard surfaces such as rock,
                                                                                     as                      gravel, tree roots, other oysters, and shelled invertebrates, as well as artificial
                                                                                                             structures e.g. seawalls, jetties, pylons.
                                                                                                             SHAPE
                                                                                                             Widely variable, depending on the environment where the oyster is attached.
                                                                                                             The shell is radial, rounded and often extremely rough and sharp. Lower shell
                                                                                                             moderately/well cupped generally with fine lamellae externally. The lower
                                                                  De                  a]                     shell has broad folds. Chomata not always visible on the ventral margin.
                                                                                                             COLOUR
                                                                                                             External colour is pale grey/brown often with dark pigmentation around the
                                                                                                             margin. Internally the shell is white, black, or grey, and sometimes with a
                                                                                                             black/grey or yellow margin (shell valve), and pale coloured adductor scar.
                                                                                  }                          SIZE
                                                                            Fi                               Up to 10cm in length and 60 grams in weight.
                                                                                                              ‘Scientificname — Saccostrea: ‘true’ oyster, glomerata: ‘to gather, heap up’
                                                                                                             Size (adult shell) Up to 10cm in length
                                                                         ey oe      er ern                    Shell colour      External: Pale grey/brown, can have dark pigmentation
                                                                                                                              _ around the margin. Internal: white, black, or grey. Shell
                                                                            :                                  _                (valve) Margin: black/grey or yellow.
                                                                                                              Shape of upper    Moderate/well cupped with external fine lamellae.
                                                                      va                                      shell/valve       Lower shell has broad folds.
                                                                                   i                          Habitat:          Estuarine. Intertidal zone down to 8 metres.
                                                                                           7                 Habitat value-     Provides habitats for numerous marine species e.g. fish,
                                                                                                              HIGH            _ invertebrates, marine plants.
                                                                               ae      i    ¥                   5
                                                                          4                                     RESTORING LOST OYSTER ECOSYSTEMS
                                                                                                                To learn more about our work to restore shellfish ecosystems across
                                                                                          2    m                Australia, visit natureaustralia.org.au/shellfishreefs
                                                                  Juvenile oysters growing on oyster shell Phato ® Ben Diez

                                                                                                                                                   The Nature                   (%
                                                                                                                                                     Conservancy                \P
                                                                                                                                                                 Australia

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