Shellfish Restoration Research in New Zealand
MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS' MARINE LIFE IMPROVING AFTER MUSSELS PROJECT
January 2022
An update from our PhD students on our mussel restoration project in the Marlborough Sounds. Read the Stuff piece here.
NEW ZEALAND REVIVED ITS MUSSEL BEDS – AND NOW OTHERS HOPE TO DO THE SAME
March 2021
Searching for a way to rejuvenate depleted mussel beds, scientists at the University of Auckland and local communities hit upon a radical solution – dropping empty shells onto the beds to create reef-like structures that living mussels could then bind to.
HOW TO GET MUSSELS INTO BED – AND CLEAN UP THE HARBOUR
January 2021
Tonnes of mussels have been tossed overboard from barges into the Mahurangi Harbour in recent years. Mussels are renowned for their ability to feed on water impurities, and it's hoped that by re-establishing mussel beds, a badly polluted Hauraki Gulf can be cleaned up and marine life dramatically improved. But getting new beds to take hold presents challenges. Al Alder, a student at the Leigh Marine Laboratory, has been working on the problem …
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND MAKING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN THE HAURAKI GULF
June 2020
SEE THE ANIMALS WE'RE FINDING ON THE RESTORED BEDS
April 2020
We've been leaving cameras on the restored beds in the Hauraki Gulf and the Marlborough Sounds, with some exciting results! This helps us quantify how the beds are increasing the biodiversity in the area. Thank you to our fantastic team of citizen scientists around the world who are helping us identify them all!
USING THE BOXFISH ROV TO MODEL MUSSEL BEDS
April 2020
Emilee has been using the Boxfish ROV to make 3D models of her restored mussel patches to investigate how the mussels organise themselves over time, and the many other animals she's finding on them.
NGĀTI MANUHIRI EXCITED BY EFFORTS TO RESTORE HEALTH OF MOANA
February 2020
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and the first day of Seaweek 2020, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage visited Mahurangi Harbour to witness for herself the fruits of the shellfish restoration programme.
Photo: Minister's office
