Oyster Shell Recycling at the Market
Since 2017, South Melbourne Market has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to recycle oyster shells as part of the Shuck Don't Chuck project.
The once-thriving shellfish ecosystems and vibrant reefs that spanned nearly half of Port Phillip Bay are now one of Australia's most endangered ecosystems due to historical overfishing, disease and sedimentation.
But there's hope! Together, we're working to restore these precious ecosystems. Discarded oyster, mussel and scallop shells are collected from the Market, which are then used to rebuild shellfish reefs at Wilson Spit and 9ft Bank (outer Geelong Harbour), Margaret's Reef (Hobsons Bay) and Dromana. More locations are set to be restored in the future as well.
By recycling shells, we're not just reducing waste; we're restoring our reefs and saving our planet. It's a sustainable solution that benefits us all.
How does it work?
South Melbourne Market visitors and traders dispose of their oyster, mussel and scallop shells in the dedicated blue shell bins onsite. Shells are collected from the Market each week by Shuck Don't Chuck partner, B-Alternative, and transported to the Bellarine Peninsula where they are left to cure through sun and wind exposure for six months to ensure there are no diseases or pathogens.
Once cured, the shells are mixed with limestone rubble and taken to sea by The Nature Conservancy, where they are spread across the sea floor at four restoration locations in Port Phillip Bay. Hatchery reared juvenile Australian Flat Oysters (Ostrea angasi) and Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis galloprovincialis) are then spread over the shells so that new reefs can form.
How can you help?
Be sure to place your oyster shells into the blue shell bins at the Market and be careful to remove any plastic or other items, as they cannot be recycled and must be kept out of our oceans.
Margaret's Reef, Port Phillip Bay
Port Phillip Bay
15 minutes by boat from inner Melbourne’s Docklands Pier lies Margaret’s Reef, under 10 metres of Port Phillip Bay seawater. This very reef is a positive sign of the resurrection of one of the Bay’s former marine habitats that, until recently, had been completely removed from the local seascape.
Port Phillip Bay contains a wide range of marine habitats like leafy seagrass meadows, hard temperate coral outcrops, colourful sponge gardens and vast underwater sandy plains. A hundred years ago it was also home to extensive oyster and mussel reefs that supported a huge range of other sea life including fish, crabs, sea squirts, snails and sponges. Sadly, after many years of over exploitation, pollution, introduced species and disease, these shellfish reefs disappeared.
Port Phillip Bay was The Nature Conversancy's first Australian shellfish reef restoration project, which saw them join forces with the State Government, The Thomas Foundation and the Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club back in 2015.
Click here to find out more about the incredible marine life found in Port Phillip Bay.
Rebuilding Australia's lost shellfish reefs
The Nature Conservancy are leading Australia's largest marine restoration initiative, to bring shellfish reef ecosystems back from the brink of extinction - for the benefit of people and nature.
Since commencing work in Port Phillip Bay back in 2015, they now have restored reefs in 21 locations with a target of 60 reefs across Australia by 2030. This will make Australia the first nation in the world to recover a critically endangered marine ecosystem.
Since 2015, The Nature Conservancy's Port Phillip Bay project has:
- Restored over 12 hectares of reef (that's about the size of six MCGs!)
- Recycled over 700 tonnes of shells
- Built 49 new shellfish reefs across four locations.
Where the restored reefs can be found in Port Phillip Bay.
Oyster shells curing on the Bellarine Peninsula
Bald Octopus on the Dromana restored reef, Port Phillip Bay (VIC). Credit: Elgin Associates.