3. Noosa Project Restoration Plan V12

 9. Oyster gardeners care for        Oyster gardeners are responsible for:
 oysters                                · Monitoring of gardens every couple of days and shaking
                                             the baskets to release pseudo-faeces.
                                        · Inspecting and hosing down the baskets at least one per
                                             month (more often in areas where high algal growth or
                                             sedimentation occurs)
                                        · Affixing repairs to the mooring lines or baskets, as
                                             required. Oyster gardeners may seek assistance from the
                                             project team.

                                     Oyster gardeners are encouraged to record observations (rate of
                                     algae growth, interesting species, any wear and tear of gardens).

                                     The project team will inspect oyster baskets periodically and take
                                     measurements. Oyster gardeners may assist.
 10. Records                         Project team will keep accurate records of oyster gardeners,
                                     contacts, number of baskets, maintenance activities undertaken
                                     and eventual fate of baskets.
 11. Decommissioning                 Oyster gardens remain in commission for 6 to 12 months.
                                     Oyster gardens are then inspected by the project team and the
                                     oysters and cultch released onto the oyster restoration sites by
                                     TNC as per the project specifications.
                                     After the oysters and cult are released, the baskets will be
                                     collected by TNC/NICA, dried and repaired for future use,
                                     returned to Bribie Island or disposed of at the Doonan Solid
                                     Waste Facility.
 12. Reporting                       Project partner, NICA, is required every 6 months to report to
                                     TNC on project progress.
                                     TNC reports twice per year on project progress to agencies.
                                     TNC remains in close contact with NICA throughout project
                                     implementation and assists technically with project
                                     implementation.


The oyster gardening techniques applied in Noosa are adapted from the Bribie Island oyster gardening
project led by Dr Ben Diggles. Dr Diggles has been consulted during the formation of this project. Dr
Diggles has also provided the Noosa project with 70 pathogen free oyster baskets for use in the project.
The project also draws on TNC’s success with the mussel gardening in Western Australia
(https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/newsroom/mandurah-mussel-gardens/) and with oyster
gardening caried out by TNC and its partners in the USA.

Shellfish gardening is practiced worldwide, and the methodologies are simple, safe and prevent the
spread of disease through simple design and tried and tested methodologies and sound record
keeping12. An example of a rock oyster garden that will be used in Noosa is presented in Figure 5.5.



12
  Examples: TNC’s major mussel gardening project in the Peel/Harvey Inlet, Western Australia with over 100
mussel gardeners engaged (see: https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/our-priorities/oceans/ocean-
stories/shellfish-garden/); the Restore Pumicestone Passage community alliance who recently ran a successful
oyster and mussel gardening project on Bribe Island (see http://restorepumicestonepassage.org/oyster-
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