Greening the Gulf - Coastal Restoration using Mussels

The FBI, particularly Ian, has been helpful in our efforts to restore mussel beds in the sea. Running big barges to transport large quantities of mussels to the sea floor is costly, so we are exploring ways to encourage mussels to naturally recruit back into areas. Mussels have a unique life cycle with male and female mussels releasing sperm and eggs into the water column. The fertilized eggs develop into larvae that drift in the sea for up to three months before settling on seaweed, particularly filamentous types.

To encourage mussels to settle and reestablish mussel beds, we have been experimenting with creating copies of seaweed that mussels prefer to settle on. By placing these seaweed copies in the ocean, we hope to provide an alternative method to restore mussel beds efficiently. Studies have shown that these seaweed copies have similar effects to the original seaweed in attracting mussels.

Our ultimate goal is to establish living mussel reefs that are self-sustaining and attract juvenile mussels back to them. This will help restore the ecosystem function that was present in the Hauraki Gulf before it was destroyed. Mussels play a crucial role in biodiversity, supporting various marine species like octopuses, small fish, crabs, and worms. They also have ecosystem benefits such as clarifying water, stabilizing the sea floor, and providing nursery habitats for small fish, leading to significant economic benefits.