Restoration Plan

Page 2

 

1. History of oystering in the Noosa River

The commercial oyster industry in the Noosa River commenced in the 1870's or 1880s, and ceased,
having become economically unviable, by the 1940's (Thurston 2015). Oystering locations were
recorded by local fisheries officials throughout this period. Historical maps (from 1934; see Figure 1)
outline the extent of the oyster lease areas, indicating the most probable historical range of oyster
beds within the estuary. These oyster lease areas were dredged intensively for oysters in the early
1900’s, resulting in the removal of live oyster beds and the underlying bedrock. This resulted in the
loss of large areas of intertidal and subtidal hard substrates that are required for oyster spat to settle,
grow, and form reefs. The endpoint of this process was that oyster reefs were no longer present as a
substantial habitat in the lower and middle reaches of the estuary (Thurston 2015).

  

Figure 1. A hand-drawn chart from 1934, made by the Fisheries Inspector to highlight the areas in the
Noosa River closed to net fishing. The red numbers indicate the locations of all known Noosa oyster
sections. Source: Queensland State Archives.

 

2. Importance of oyster reefs as estuarine habitats

Oyster reefs are biogenic structures in which subsequent generations of larval oysters settle on older
generations, and continue to grow progressively outwards. Occurring predominantly in the lower
intertidal throughout south-east Queensland, oyster reefs provide structurally complex and food-rich
habitat for a diversity of fish species, including many species which are of commercial and/or
recreational value (Diggles 2013) (Figure 2).

The importance of Oyster reefs as a habitat type is recognised within the Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance (The Ramsar Convention — habitat type ‘Ga’) (Kasoar et al. 2015). Oyster
reefs provide critical habitat for estuarine fishes through two key mechanisms: 1) by affording
structural complex structure within estuaries that fish use as habitat for resting, seeking refuge from
predators, and spawning; and 2) by delivering a diversity of food resources for fishes, including
planktonic prey, smaller fishes, and the oysters themselves, which occur in higher concentration in
and around the reefs (Harding and Mann, 2001). As a consequence, just 10m? of restored oyster
reefs have been shown to yield an additional 2.6 kg of fish biomass per year over the lifetime of the
reefs relative to sandy substrates (Peterson et al. 2003).

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woo So
Figure 2. Natural oyster reef structure at Toorbul Point, Queensland in the early 1900's. Reefs
constitute a structurally complex, biogenic habitat that provides feeding opportunities, shelter sites

and spawning areas for fish in estuaries. Oyster reefs can also slow erosion processes and can
improve water quality at a local scale.

 

 

 

 

        

 

Distribution of oyster reefs and restoration sites in the Noosa River Estuar
Historically, the likely spatial extent of oyster reefs in the Noosa River is estimated to be in the range
of 41,530 to 207,650 m? (ESP 2016). A minimum of 8,241 m? of oyster beds was removed per year
during the peak oyster harvest. Approximately 16,850m? of old oyster beds are currently buried by
sediment in the historical oyster lease areas. Of the original extent of naturally occurring oyster reefs
in Noosa River, approximately 20,647 m2 of degraded living oyster beds (i.e. small and isolated
patches, often heavily silt covered and containing many dead shells) remain scattered throughout the
system. These oyster beds have a low vertical profile and a low surface area : volume ratio, are easily
covered by silt (especially from wind suspension or seasonal rain events), and therefore do not
provide the same opportunities for oyster recruitment as established oyster reefs would. Additionally,
the current extent of degraded oyster beds in the Noosa River (20,647 m2) is only a small fraction of
the total area of oyster reef habitats (41,530 to 207,650 m2) that are likely to have been present
before commercial harvesting commenced. Oyster spat are, however, still present, and abundant, in
the Noosa River, and recruit to suitable hard substrate when it is present (TNC & ESP 2015).

The additional benefits provided by complex, biogenic and self-recruiting oyster reef habitats far
exceed the benefits provided by scattered oysters occurring on urban structures and cannot be
considered as oyster reefs. Having oysters in a system (e.g. oysters growing on jetties, pylons, or
artificial rock walls) does not substitute for the functional, ecological or habitat roles that natural
restored oyster reefs can provide for estuarine ecosystems. Urban structures also do not provide the
same complexity as natural systems can within the seascape (Peterson et al 2003).

The restoration sites that we have chosen as locations for oyster reef restoration in the Noosa River:

1) are in reaches of the lower estuary and in Weyba Creek from which oysters were harvested
historically (Figure 1);

2) are within the depth range known to be suitable for oyster reefs to grow;

3) are in locations where viable oyster larvae were recorded during recent recruitment studies
(TNC & ESP 2015); and

4) have an extent where the final restored area will not exceed the historical areal extent of
oyster reefs before commercial harvesting took place.

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There is limited suitable natural substrate available for oyster larvae to settle (i.e. biogenic reef
substrates) in the estuary due to anthropogenic changes, increased sedimentation and smothering of
historical oyster habitats (ESP 2016). Provision of appropriate substrate (i.e. with suitable vertical
height above the sediment and overhanging surfaces for oyster spat to settle onto) to allow oyster
reefs to recover within the Noosa Estuary, would restore a habitat type that is also important for
productivity of fisheries species that the Noosa River Declared Fish Habitat Area has been designated
to protect. These species that benefit from increased diversity of habitat types include: yellowfin
bream, estuary cod, tailor, mangrove jack, and moses perch.

 

 

 
 

4, Relevant Queensland legislation forFish Habitat AreaA
Fisheries resources are regulated in Queensland via the Fisheries Act 1994. The objectives of the Act
are:

To provide for the use, conservation and enhancement of the community’s fisheries resources and
fish habitats in a way that seeks to—

(a) apply and balance the principles of ecologically sustainable development;

(b) promote ecologically sustainable development
(2) In balancing the principles, each principle is to be given the relative emphasis appropriate in the
circumstances.

A mechanism within the Fisheries Act to manage, conserve and enhance the fisheries resources is
the provision of Declared Fish Habitat Areas (FHA). Fisheries Regulations legislate activities
permitted in those FHA.

Section 214 of the Fisheries Regulation 2008 provides that the following activities may be authorised
in a Management Level A Fish Habitat Area:

RESTORING fish habitat or natural processes (e.g. works to restore river bank profiles).

The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing Operational Policy for Management of Declared
Fish Habitat Area outlines that restoration of fish habitat or natural processes within a declared FHA
may be required where:

“s natural events have caused disturbance (e.g. severe mangrove loss from storm damage); or

+ there has been human interference but the person responsible is unable to be identified....

Restoration is the process of returning a site to an agreed pre-existing natural condition. From a
declared FHA perspective, this means restoring natural substrate profiles and processes to a level
where natural succession will continue the recovery process. Projects that aim to deal with
disturbance from human interference may involve both a specific restoration component and an
associated component that prevents or manages the factors that caused the impacts.”

As detailed in the report by Dr Thurston (Thurstan 2015 Appendix 1), there has been substantial
human interference to the fish habitats and natural processes in the Noosa River. Of particular
televance to this project plan is the interference from dredging of oyster reefs throughout all areas
shown in Figure 1 prior to the 1930’s. The Operational Policy for Management of Declared Fish
Habitat Area therefore provides mechanism for the oyster reefs to be restored by way of "restoring
natural substrate profiles and processes to a level where natural succession will continue the recovery
process”,

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Page 5

 

  

 

The principal objective is to restore natural oyster reef habitat in the Noosa Estuary. This requires the
addition of suitable hard substrate for oyster spat to settle, and allowing natural recruitment and reef-
formation processes to recover to areas that historically supported oyster reefs.

The oyster settlement substrate will comprise oyster reef restoration units. These units are made from
the most suitable recruitment material - oyster shells held together by a natural coir fibre bag. The
units are raised above the muddy and sandy beds, thereby mimicking the vertical relief of the original
oyster reefs to facilitate natural recruitment processes (Figure 5).

We expect that natural recruitment processes will cement the dead shell together and form part of the
mosaic of habitats within the estuary including both soft and hard structural habitat types, thereby
creating a structurally diverse mosaic of habitats that is predicted to be beneficial to a range of fish
species, including species of harvested in commercial and recreational fisheries (e.g. yellowfin bream,
estuary cod, tailor, mangrove jack, and moses perch).

The project is restricted to the Noosa River estuary as this is the area funded by the Noosa Biosphere
Reserve Foundation through the Noosa Council’s environment levy.

 

   

The locations for the deployment of oyster teef restoration units have been selected based on + five
main criteria:

1) Historical Area Match:
All sites are located within the area that have historically supported oyster beds before heavy
commercial dredging dramatically reduced their extent to the point of local extirpation;

2) Depth Range
All sites fall within the depth range of current oyster reef growth in SE Queensland;

3) Recruitment Success
All sites have recruitment of spat as shown in our pilot studies;

4) No Recreational Displacement
Sites are located to minimize any interference with existing recreational activities;

5) Safe for Boating
All sites are located above Lowest astronomical tide in areas where vessel movement is
restricted (i.e. outside navigational markers),

Table 1. Planned oyster reef restoration sites in the Noosa River estuary (site numbers correspond to
site numbers in Figure 4 (GDA94, Zone 56J).

 

Site number Easting Northing
1 504268 7082455
2 504555 7081863
3 504293 7081482
4 504441 7080714
5 504960 7080594
6 505112 7080859
7 505433 7080679
8 506151 7080584
9 507055 7081187
10 507134 7081732
14 508037 7080212
12 507660 7079935
13 507103 7078796
14 507105 7078683
16 506176 7075586

 

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Page 6

 

Figure 4. Planned oyster reef restoration sites in the Noosa River estuary.

The oyster reef restoration units are open-weave coir mesh bags (30 cm diameter x 1m long) filled
with oyster shell. Coir will be sourced from commercial providers of erosion management products. All
oyster shells used will be treated in accordance with the conditions of the Beneficial Use Permit
issued by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection on 7 November 2016
(ENBU07017216). These include:
1. Sourced from oyster processing centers and/or restaurants; and
2. Cleaned and sterilized through:
a. Using hoses or high pressure wasters to remove any soft tissue; and
b. Drying in direct sunlight at >18°C for at least 3 months
OR
c. boiled in water for a period of at least 5 minutes.

Each oyster shell filled coir bag will be constructed on land, then transferred to the site using a small

boat or barge. At each site, three clusters of bags, arranged in a 5 m equilateral triangle, will be
deployed as shown in the detailed design drawings (see appendix 5). The bags will be fixed with large

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pegs onto the sediment based on specifications made by the Registered Professional Engineer of
Queensland (RPEQ) to prevent displacement. Each cluster of 3 x 3 bags is referred to hereafter as an
oyster reef restoration unit. The 90m? resource allocation area around each oyster reef restoration
unit includes both the oyster reef restoration units themselves and the sandy areas between the bags
(i.e. area inside the triangle).

The base of the unit will be placed at the lowest astronomical tide. Such strategies have been
employed globally in the restoration of oyster reefs, especially for the initial deployments of strata
similar to the oyster reef restoration units in new regions, and have resulted in the successful
restoration of reefs in all instances (see Appendix 2 for a summary of these approaches in using
biodegradable bags for oyster restoration purposes, especially figures 15 and 18). Note that there are
different species present in Australia to those in restored reefs in the United States of America, and
that seed oysters are not required in this system due to the high abundance of natural oyster spat
(TNC & ESP 2015).

Oyster Reef Restoration Units mimic the form of natural
reefs that were historically dredged by providing over-
hanging surfaces that dramatically increase surface

areafor settlement of oyster spat relative by:
= removing competition with algae that only grow on
surfaces exposed to sunlight; and

Sunlight

  
 
  
 

   

 

~ sheltering spat from fine sediment that accumu:
lates from the water column

B\ Turf and mactoalgae
‘on existing rubble

Oyster Reef Restoration Unit Existing Rocky Rubble

     

Shell beds present at or just below sediment surface

Historical oyster beds a dead shell in tidal channels of Lake Weyba

layer below the sediment surface

  

 

 

Not to scale & not for construction purposes

Figure 5. Conceptual diagram of oyster reef construction and positioning on the banks of the Noosa
River estuary.

 

7. Community Value Alignment

Fundamentally, the project is an instrument to address a key objective of the Noosa Plan Community
Vision, which states:

“The Noosa community has a commitment to environmental excellence and sustainability. The impact of human
settlement has been minimised. We manage, maintain, restore and preserve our natural environment”

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Page 8

 

  

   

 

8. Alternative _ o
The principal intent of the project is to restore oyster reef recruitment in the Noosa River to areas that
have historically supported oyster beds, and thereby increase the diversity of fish habitat in the
system.

 

Historical information shows that oyster reefs occurred over substantial areas in the lower reaches of
the Noosa River. These beds have been drastically reduced by unsustainable heavy dredging and
have not recovered naturally in a century. Thus, given the long time that was available for the reefs to
return, and the lack of any natural recovery to date, it is extremely unlikely that oyster beds will
recover naturally in the foreseeable future.

Thus, to return the Noosa River ecosystem to its most probable mix of habitat types and to create a
range of heterogenous and complex fish habitats, there exists no practicable alternative than to
enhance oyster recruitment by providing substrate: this is the reason for this project.

There are no feasible alternatives outside of the Declared Fish Habitat Area A in the Noosa River for
the following three main reasons:

1) The selected restoration sites encompass the area that historically was most likely to have
harboured oyster reefs prior to their destruction in the late 19' and early 20" century
(Thurston 2015), and which has a good current supply of oyster larvae (Figure 3; TNC & ESP
2015).

2) Alternatives in Fish Habitat Management B areas (specifically Lake Doonella) are not suitable
because of the very shallow water body that is frequently highly turbid (caused by wind-driven
suspension of silt and mud) and hence inimical to larval settlement and recruitment (TNC &
ESP 2015),

3) Other areas outside the Declared Fish Habitat Area are important recreation areas, with high
public use, or are navigational channels. It is not practicable to place oyster reef restoration
units in areas that significantly interfere with public access and use or present hazards to
boating.

The planned area of restoration comprises 15 small restoration areas, distributed throughout the
Noosa River according to four main criteria:

1. Encompass the most likely area historically covered by reefs
Historical data show that a minimum of 8,241m? of oyster reefs were removed by dredging
from the lower estuary. Because no fine-scale historical maps exist of oyster reefs, it is
sensible to spread sites to encompass the most likely extent that existed.

2. Oyster Larvae Recruitment
Selected restoration sites encompass the reaches where TNC & ESP (2015) have
demonstrated during a pilot study in 2014/2015, that natural recruitment of larvae is high.

3. Risk Spreading
Vandalism by the general public is possible and this risk can be reduced by dispersing
restoration units over multiple locations.

4. Habitat Connectivity
The value of oyster reefs as fish habitats is enhanced in settings where reefs are functionally
connected (via organism and nutrient movement) to nearby habitats such as mangroves and
seagrass beds. Thus, several sites are located close to, but never inside, mangroves and
seagrass to improve habitat quality.

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iming

eefs shall be dep! oyed approximate! ly 2- weeks following receipt of all relevant approva Ss.

 

Itis anticipated that all relevant approvals will be received in early 2017. Thus, installation of the reef
restoration units can, theoretically, take place from March 2017 onwards. This period does not
coincide with any significant breeding or migratory patterns of coastal birds that are associated with
the FHA.

 

 

   

10.Management measures a
All restoration works will be guided by current best practice design, restoration and monitoring
principles in collaboration with our project partners, especially the The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
TNC has substantial experience with restoring oyster reefs in southern Australian systems (especially
Port Phillip Bay). TNC has been a partner in the design of this project and will continue to remain an
important key collaborator throughout this project.

 

The proposal is to restore oyster reefs over a total area of 1,350 m2. This represents 0.05% of the
5,974 ha Management Area A of the Noosa River Declared Fish Habitat Area. Because the project
will only provide settlement sites for oyster larvae that already exist in the Noosa River, and use only
natural materials of oyster shells that were once common in the Noosa River, the risks to the health
and functioning of the Declared Fish Habitat area are expected to be negligible.

Restoring oyster reefs by creating suitable habitat for oyster spat to settle onto will be achieved using
oyster reef restoration units made of materials that existed in the system previously (i.e. oyster shells)
and other natural and degradable products, which are necessary for establishment of natural spat
recruitment processes is considered rehabilitation, and therefore not a risk to the natural functioning
of the Declared Fish Habitat Area. The investigation by Ecological Service Professionals (2016) found
that the likely area of oyster reefs in the harvesting days (i.e. 41,530 to 207,650m2) was far greater
than the area (i.e. 1,350 m?) that this project is seeking to facilitate restoration of natural spat
recruitment processes with the aim to rehabilitate oyster reefs in the Noosa River. For this reason, it is
clear that although existing soft sediment habitat will be covered by naturally-recruited oyster reefs,
this is substrate that was anthropogenically modified via harvesting of oysters in the 1900s.

 

 

411.ProjectGoals

The project goals are as follows and methods to measure achievement of the goals are details in
Table 2 overleaf:

(1) Oyster Restoration Unit stability (i.e. oyster reef restoration units remain within the allocated
resource allocation areas);

(2) Restoration of Natural Recruitment Processes over long term (i.e. spat recruitment rates
demonstrate that the biogenic matrix will be sufficient to hold the structure of the oyster reef
restoration units in place following complete degradation of the supporting coir material during the
establishment phase and to facilitate ongoing natural recruitment processes);

(3) Equitable Community Impacts (i.e. ensuring fair community use of the river system is not impacted
by placement of the Oyster Reef Restoration Units within the Resource Allocation Areas - to be
monitored using a council operated community feedback system); and

(4) No negative impact on Marine plants or Shoreline erosion (i.e. ensuring the oyster restoration units
do not impede natural marine plant growth or accelerate coastal erosion processes).

Monitoring will follow established international protocols for monitoring restored oyster habitats
(Baggett et al. 2014 Appendix 1). The monitoring program will be adaptive, with annual reviews
against the Performance Objectives for the project (See Table 2). This monitoring plan is provided to
gain a Resource Allocation Authority and Development Permit, only the methods to measure project

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goals that demonstrate that Oyster Restoration Units have facilitated restoration of natural oyster spat
recruitment processes, stability of the oyster reef restoration units and community acceptance will be

measured. A separate and parallel monitoring program will be developed to assess the benefit of this
restoration project to other fish habitat restoration research priorities that the oyster reefs are

expected to provide.

 

42. Monitoringschedule

Table 2. Proposed schedule for monitoring oyster reef habitat restoration in the Noosa River.

1, Oyster Restoration Uni

it location stability

  

 

 

 

The Key Performance
Indicators for this are:

1.) Oyster recruitment:
successful recruitment of
oyster spat in at least 1
out of the 3 years (i.e.
33% of the time) post
deployment (following
international best practice

 

The monitoring methods for
each Indicators are:

1.) Oyster recruitment:
marked oyster shells will be
fastened to the outside of
restoration units. These sheils
will be harvested at regular
intervals (15 oyster shells per
location on each event ~i.e. 5

 

 

Oyster restoration units Visually inspect the stability of | Every 6 A professional coastal engineer shall
remain within the oyster reef units and record months fora | be consulted to suggest remedial
designated Resource the precise GPS position (tcm | minimum of | action for any oyster reef
Allocation Areas. scale), and size of each unit three years restoration units that collapse, or
(following international best shift by > 1m.
practice: Baggett et al. 2015). Additional
Use GIS software to contrast monitoring Any oyster reef restoration units
the position, footprint, size and | willbe that move outside the designated
area of oyster reef restoration | conducted Resource Allocation Areas within 3
units between monitoring within 2 years will be removed. A
events and assess any weeks of professional ecologist will confirm
potential movement. substantial the cause of the shift, as
rainfall
events (i.e.
events that
exceed 50-
year Average
Rainfall
Intervals).
2. Natural Recruitment Processes
Oysters and other sessile | Quantify the recruitment of Every 6 We will contrast: 1) the rate of
benthic invertebrates oysters and other sessile months fora | oyster recruitment; 2) the cover of
recruit to reef restoration | benthic invertebrates to reef minimum of | oysters and all other sessile benthic
units to establish a restoration units, and measure | three years, invertebrates; and 3) the stability of
biogenic matrix, which changes in the cover of oysters | unless the biogenic matrix among oyster
binds oyster shells in and other sessile benthic otherwise reef restoration units and between
place, prior to invertebrates over time detailed monitoring events.
degradation of coir (following international best within
material. practice: Baggett et al. 2015). | corrective Any restoration units that fail to
actions meet the Key Performance

 

Indicators within 3 years will be
removed

 

 

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Page 11

 

of 40%: Baggett et al.
2015).3;

2.) Cover of oysters and
other sessile benthic
invertebrates: an upward
trend in the cover of
sessile benthic
invertebrates growing on
restoration units; and

3.) Establishment of
stable biogenic matrix:
structural rigidity of
oyster restoration units,
denoting a stable biogenic
matrix after 3 years post
deployment, which is
sufficient to hold oyster
shells in place.

shells per unit) and the density
and size of recruits recorded;

2.) Cover of oysters and other
sessile benthic invertebrates:
photographs of ten quadrats
(25 cm x 25cm), distributed in
a stratified random design,
across each oyster reef
restoration unit will be taken
at regular intervals to quantify
the change in cover of oysters
and other sessile benthic
invertebrates (Baggett et al.
2015)",

3.) Establishment of stable
biogenic matrix: assess the
structural integrity of each
oyster reef restoration unit and
monitor the degradation of
coir material, Structural
integrity will be quantified by
measuring the proportion of
oyster shells (from 10 shells
that are selected at random at
each location), which can be
removed easily by hand
manipulation. The rate of coir
degradation will be measured
by monitoring changes to the
condition of coir mesh over
time from the ten photo-
quadrats, which are collected
twice per year to assess
changes in the cover of benthic
invertebrates at each oyster
reef restoration unit.

lf major damage occurs to the coir
mesh of any oyster reef restoration
units before a stable biogenic matrix
has formed, and loose oyster shells
are being lost from the structure, it
will be repaired in-situ by hand
weaving. Any such repairs will be
conducted carefully, and by hand, to
ensure that there is no damage to
established areas of biogenic

matrix.

 

_3. Community use and enjoyment of the declared Fish Habitat Area _

   

 

 

Oyster restoration units
do not significantly impair
community use and
enjoyment of the
declared Fish Habitat
Area, particularly fishing
activities,

 

Maintain records of
community feedback, evidence
of vandalism, and vessel strikes
on the trial oyster reef
restoration units, Records will
be comprehensive and include,
as a minimum set:

1) the number and type of
complaint$fecelved; %9

2) the type, nature, and
severity of any acts of wilful
vandalism; and

3) the type and severity of any
vessel strike.

 

Annual
reporting of
all
complaints,
cases of
wilful
vandalism,
and
instances of
vessel strike
received for
the three-
year trial
period.

Complaints: within 3 months of
receiving each complaint, an
investigation (including interview
with the complainant if possible)
will be conducted to determine
whether complaints are directly
related to oyster reef restoration
units. Potential responsé
aclhions
tg the department

IA HE annuot'Repe

4“. lf complaints persist, and
grievances exceed the direct benefit
of oyster reef restoration, the

 

will be provided
OF Aauicc te. a Fisheries

as

 

 

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Page 12

 

particular oyster reef restoration
unit will be removed as soon as
practical, and prior to the 4th
anniversary post deployment.

Wilful vandalism and vessel Strikes
If there are consistent and / or
significant cases of wilful vandalism
to, or instances of vessels striking,
the oyster reef restoration units, the
cause of the impact will be
identified and used to guide the
delivery of a community education
campaign aimed at reducing these
types of incidents. If the education
campaign does not reduce cases of
wilful vandalism and / or instances
of vessel strike, the oyster reef
restoration units that are
responsible will be removed prior to
the 4th anniversary post
deployment.

 

  
   
   

f eff

ie Te

 

 

Oyster reef restoration
units do not cause a
decline in the extent of
marine plants within a 50
m radius of the
restoration units, and are
not attributed to erosion
of adjacent shorelines or
other ambient
environmental impacts.

 

Map the area of marine plant
habitats (seagrass, mangroves)
in the immediate vicinity {i.e.
with a 50 m buffer) of each
oyster restoration area, using
high-resolution GPS (cm scale)
and field-validated aerial
imagery (sourced from
Nearmap). Monitor changes in
the composition coverage and
condition of seagrass within 50
m radius around the oyster
reefs.

Map the location and condition
of estuarine shorelines that
occur in the immediate vicinity
(i.e. with a 50 m buffer) of each
oyster reef, using high-
resolution GPS (cm scale) and
field-validated aerial imagery
(sourced from Nearmap).

aR

 

      
       

Annually for
a minimum
of three
years, or
until any
failed
restoration
units have
been
removed,

 

  

Where monitoring shows that there
are substantial, and consistent,
losses of marine plants, or erosion
of estuarine shorelines, in the
immediate vicinity of oyster reef
restoration units, and these changes
can unambiguously be attributed to
oyster reef restoration activities, the
problem units that are responsible
for such impacts shall be removed
{as soon as practical and prior to the
following annual reporting
anniversary).

 

 

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Page 13

 

 

ageme

Table 3. Proposed strateg

for risk management.

 

 

 

  

  
    

 

 

 

 

| h

Oyster reef restoration | Possible Low. A Registered Professional

units shift more than Likely limited to Engineer of Queensland

1m from their original small-scale changes | (RPEQ), who is suitably

location due to local experienced in Coastal
hydrodynamics. Engineering (International

Coastal Management), has
approved the design,
construction and installation
methods for oyster reef
restoration units.

Oyster reef restoration | Unlikely Low. Regular monitoring will be

units, and associated Limited erosion of conducted to quantify the

recruited oysters, alter estuarine shorelines | extent of any shoreline

local hydrodynamics in might have some erosion. If erosion is recorded

the immediate vicinity impact on marine in the immediate vicinity of

of each location, which plant habitats, oyster reef restoration units,
leads to limited erosion council land or and this can unambiguously
of adjacent estuarine private properties, be attributed to restoration
shorelines. but this is considered | activities (i.e. significantly
not likely and greater erosion rates at
unlikely to exceed significantly different time
other erosion trajectories at the majority of
processes. restoration sites compared
with control sites), individual
reef units shall be removed.

The coir bags that hold | Possible Low. A Registered Professional

oyster shells together Establishment and Engineer of Queensland

for reef installation growth of oyster (RPEQ), who is suitably

degrade before reefs will be delayed. | experienced in Coastal

sufficient oysters have Engineering (International

recruited to cement the Coastal Management), has

structure together in a approved the design,

biogenic matrix. construction and installation
methods for oyster reef
restoration units. Coir bags will
be constructed from high-
quality coir material that has
high strength and abrasion
resistance.

Tampering Possible Low. All oyster reefs will be fitted
Possibly limited to with appropriate education and
result in lower warning signage in
recruitment potential | accordance with MSQ
of a few reef units for | requirements. This project has
natural oyster spat at | a community focus, and will
restoration sites include community
subject to significant | engagement and education
human interference. | initiatives to engender

ownership of restored oyster
reefs.

 

 

 

 

 

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Page 14

 

 

 

ecurring

 

 

and enjoyment of the
lower Noosa River
estuary

 

 

 

Navigational Hazard Unlikely Moderate. Oyster reef restoration units
Restoration sites have been designed to
were deliberately minimise navigational hazards
selected to minimise | (Appendix 5). All reefs will be
navigational located away from navigational
hazards. channels on suitable substrate
to allow restoration units to be
secured. All reefs will be fitted
with appropriate educational
and warning signage in
accordance with MSQ
requirements.
Effects on human use Unlikely Low. There may be Oyster reef restoration units

some incidences of
informal boating, or
other water-based
recreational activities
at, or in the vicinity,
of restoration sites.
However, all
restoration sites
were deliberately
selected to minimise
navigational
hazards, and to
minimise any
interference with
recreational users or
with commercial
fishers.

 

have been designed to
minimise navigational hazards
(Appendix 5). All reefs will be
located away from navigational
channels on suitable substrate
to allow restoration units to be
secured, All reefs will be fitted
with appropriate educational
and warning signage in
accordance with MSQ
requirements. This project has
a community focus, and will
include community
engagement and education
initiatives to engender
ownership of restored oyster
reefs. Moreover, the reefs are
small, easy to avoid, and there
are many alternative areas
available for recreational use
and fishing.

 

 

 

14.Reporting |

Monitoring results will be reported on annually for at least three years’ post deployment of the oyster
reef restoration units. Annual monitoring reports will be submitted by Noosa Council to the
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries within 60 business days following each anniversary of the
deployment of oyster reef restoration units, for a minimum of three years.

The annual reports shall: 1) identify whether oyster reef restoration units are likely to meet
performance within the three-year trial period; 2) identify which restoration units will need to be
relocated to other restoration locations (i.e. within the footprint of the existing RAA) where rates of
oyster recruitment, benthic invertebrate accretion, and biogenic matrix formation are acceptable; and
3) recommend which restoration units are likely to unsuccessful and, therefore, might need to be

removed in year 4.

The 4" annual report shall confirm that all oyster restoration units that failed to meet the performance
objectives have been removed from the Noosa River System prior to the 4" anniversary of
deployment and identify the legal location of their disposal.

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Page 15

 

     

15. References _
Baggett LP, Powers SP, Brumbaugh R, Coen LD, DeAngelis B, Green J, Hancock B, ‘Morlock S$.
(2014). Oyster habitat restoration monitoring and assessment handbook. The Nature Conservancy,
Arlington, Virginia.

Beck MW, Brumbaugh RD, Airoldi L, Carranza A, Coen LD, Crawford C, Defeo O, Edgar Gu,
Hancock B, Kay MC, Lenihan HS, Luckenback MW, Toropova CL, Xhang G (2009). Shellfish reefs at
tisk: a global analysis of problems and solutions. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia.

Department of National Parks, Sport and Recreation (2015). Declared Fish Habitat Area Network
Strategy 2015-2020. Brisbane QLD Accessed online January 2016:
http:/Awww.nprsr.qid.gov.au/managing/pdf/draft-declared-fha-strategy2015-20.pdf

Gilby BL, Schlacher TF, Olds AO, Yabsley NA, Connolly RM, Maxwell PM (2016). Linking habitat,
land use and water quality to optimise fish conservation in degraded estuary. University of the
Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland.

Gladstone W, Lindfield S, Coleman M, Kelaher B (2016). Optimisation of baited remote underwater
video sampling designs for estuarine fish assemblages. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and
Ecology 429, 28-35.

Grabowski JH, Brumbaugh RD, Conrad RF, Keeler AG, Opaluch JJ, Peterson CH, Piehler MF,
Powers SP, & Smyth AR (2012). Economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by oyster reefs.
Bioscience 62, 900-909.

Harding JM, & Mann, R (2001). Oyster refs as fish habitats; opportunistic use of restored oyster reefs
by transient fishes. Journal of Shellfish Research 20, 951-959.

Kasoar T, zu Ermgassen PS, Carranza A, Hancock B, & Spalding M. (2015). New opportunities for
conservation of a threatened biogenic habitat: a worldwide assessment of knowledge on bivalve-reef
representation in marine and coastal Ramsar Sites. Marine and Freshwater Research 66, 989-998.

Monks C (2000) Noosa: the way it was, the way it is now. Noosa Library, Local Studies Collection.

Sheaves M, Johnston R, Baker R (2016), Use of mangroves by fish: New insights from in-forest
videos. Marine Ecology Progress Series 549, 167-182.

Smith GS (1981) Southern Queensland's oyster fishery. Journal of the Royal Historical Society of
Queensland 11, 45-58.

Peterson CH, Grabowski JH, & Powers SP. 2003. Estimated enhancement of fish production resulting
from restoring oyster reef habitat: quantitative valuation. Marine Ecology Progress Series 264, 249-
264.

The Nature Conservancy and Ecological Service Professionals (2015) Restoration of Noosa Estuary:
An Assessment of Oyster Recruitment. Report by The Nature Conservancy and Ecological Service
Professionals, July 2015.

Thurstan R. (2015), Historical ecology of the Noosa Estuary fisheries, University of Queensland.

 

Appendices

Appendix 1 Historical ecology of the Noosa Estuary fisheries

Appendix 2 Oyster habitat restoration; monitoring and assessment handbook (TNC)

Appendix 3 Expert Elicitation Workshop Minutes

Appendix 4 Restoring historical oyster reefs in the Noosa System- Ecological Service Professionals
2016

Appendix 5 RPEQ approved plans for the 15 oyster reef restoration areas and RAAs

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