The Gippsland Lakes are one of Australia's largest and most beautiful series of coastal lagoons and wetlands. Their waterways cover about 350 square kilometres and boast stunning lakes, vast sand dunes and pristine beaches.
The area is so unique that it’s listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in recognition of the outstanding coastal wetland values and features. A playground for outdoor enthusiasts, its seascape is the perfect place to enjoy swimming, fishing, boating and bird watching.
Not only the ultimate recreational destination, Gippsland Lakes is also the home of a thriving underwater ecosystem.
A brief history of reefs in Victoria
Across Victoria, Blue Mussel and Australian Flat Oyster reefs were once abundant, but sadly are now scarcely found. The Gippsland Lakes region is unique in that there are still some existing Blue Mussel reefs. For years, these reefs have helped clean water, support fish populations and contributed to maintaining overall aquatic biodiversity.
While the Gippsland Lakes maintain lively shellfish ecosystems, the same cannot be said for many other parts of Victoria.
A haven for wildlife
The Gippsland Lakes also have significant conservation value, due to the habitat they provide for wildlife - including expansive seagrass meadows.
A population of Critically Endangered Burrunan Dolphins call the area home. Local citizen scientists have identified over 130 fish species and an additional 250 invertebrates that reside in the area, including the Black Bream, King George Whiting and the Bigbelly Seahorse.
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The future of reefs in the lakes
With support from the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, and the Australian Government, we're launching reef builds at two sites in the Gippsland Lakes.
We have received a Marine and Coastal Act Consent from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for restoring up to 5 hectares of shellfish reefs at Nyerimilang and Metung. Our initial focus will be restoring reefs at Nyerimilang.
This reef project is working with the broader ‘Love our Lakes’ initiative which fosters a shared responsibility in caring for the Lakes and catchment.
Building more reefs in the area will support the incredible biodiversity already within the lakes. It will also extend the habitat for existing fish populations, boost important fish stocks, and improve water quality. Overall reef expansion will also help create local jobs and establish new fishing and dive tourism hotspots.
In early 2022, we will kick-start the new reefs by placing local limestone rock material on the bed of the Gippsland Lakes, to provide a foundation. The reef patches will be about half a metre in height and will be placed at a depth of 7 metres. The first phase of the shellfish reef restoration works at Nyerimilang will be about 2.5 hectares in size.
Learn more about the project
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Gippsland Lakes Shellfish Reef Fact SheetRead more about the shellfish reef restoration project
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Shellfish ecosystem restoration across Australia
With successful reef builds already in places like Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay, we’re excited to begin reef builds in Gippsland Lakes.
This project is one of thirteen sites being built under Reef Builder , an initiative supported by the Australian Government. It aims to bring shellfish reefs back from the brink of extinction. It's also designed to support the economic recovery of communities affected by bushfires and COVID-19.
If achieved, Australia will be the first nation in the world to have recovered a critically endangered marine ecosystem.
An update from Gippsland Lakes
Quote: Simon Branigan
Restoring shellfish reef ecosystems in the Gippsland Lakes will provide food and shelter for many marine species, including recreationally important fish.
Benefits for people and nature
The return of the shellfish reefs to Gippsland Lakes has many benefits for the local community and nature. This includes:
- improve marine biodiversity, fish production and water quality
- provide further opportunities for people to enjoy recreational fishing, snorkelling and diving
- boost to sustainable tourism
- community engagement opportunities including volunteering and citizen science
You can help us restore shellfish reefs across Australia.
Just $35 per month for a year, can buy enough oysters, mussels and limestone to build 8m2 of reef.
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