Farm to Restore - Continued

Oceanfarmr and the University of Wollongong are collaborating on a study of the diversity of fish supported by oyster farms in the Clyde River.

Australia’s natural oyster reefs are all but extinct, meaning that we are in danger of losing these biodiverse ecosystems that support hundreds of species, including many fish. There are a few excellent projects around the country working to bring back oyster reefs, but they are not enough.

Luckily, there is plenty of evidence that oyster farms act as substitutes for the missing reefs. Their structures offer refuge for fish, hunting opportunities and surfaces where food grows. Oyster baskets are even used by juveniles to shelter from predators. Some farmers even set aside areas of their farms to restore as natural reefs.

We are using underwater cameras to record the fish around the farms. Images of fish are extracted from the video by AI, providing evidence of the numbers and species that the farms are supporting. We are developing a system of cameras and other instruments as a simple way for farmers to gather evidence for compensation for these benefits they bring to the environment. We believe that it is about time that farmers are rewarded for helping the environment and boosting stocks of fish, while growing us tasty food.

Checkout what we’ve captured lately!