Shellfish reefs, once extensive in Aotearoa New Zealand, make a significant contribution to the health and resilience of our coastal ecosystems, which have high cultural, social, economic and environmental value. The endemic green-lipped mussel (kūtai/Perna canaliculus), once widespread in New Zealand, is now restricted to the aquaculture industry and small remnant natural reefs due to overharvesting and drastic habitat changes over the past century.
Using a novel interdisciplinary and inter-organisational approach, we have been working to restore mussel reefs in New Zealand. Indigenous iwi groups, community groups, industry, and management parties integrate with the science to tackle the challenges of shellfish restoration to create a successful restoration group and, most importantly, restored shellfish reefs.
This presentation will be an overview of our research that includes providing the underpinning science needed for successful restorations and exploring the multiple and often hidden ecosystem services that restoration provides to assist and increase the success of present and future restoration efforts. Our globally novel research has so far uncovered results such as the enhancement of denitrification processes by restored mussel reefs, especially in sandier habitats, and we have documented an increase in key fisheries and epifauna species on the restored mussel reefs.