Aussie shellfish reef restoration work honoured by United Nations

A pioneering project to restore the nearly extinct shellfish reefs that once protected Australia’s coasts has been named as a World Restoration Flagship by the United Nations.

The UN announcement recognises Reef Builder, a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Australian Government, as one of the planet’s most ambitious, science-based, and inspiring examples of large-scale ecosystem restoration in action.

Since 2021, the Reef Builder project has established native oyster and mussel reefs at 21 sites around Australia, jumpstarting the restoration of an ecosystem that once covered a third of the country’s coastline. These reefs filtered billions of litres of seawater and reduced wave damage, before dredging and overharvesting last century wiped out more than 90% of them.

“For thousands of years, native oyster and mussel reefs filtered and cleaned Australia’s waters, acting as the ‘kidneys of the ocean’,” said TNC’s Australia Country Director Lara Gallagher.

“But over the past century, more than 90% of these reefs have disappeared due to dredging and overharvest, rendering the ecosystem functionally extinct and leaving our oceans and coastlines vulnerable. Reef Builder is bringing this critically important ecosystem back to life.

“Receiving the UN World Restoration Flagship designation is an incredible honour that reflects the dedication and passion of the entire team. It means the world to us.

“By restoring our lost shellfish reefs, we can give our oceans the kidney transplant they so desperately need, and safeguard businesses, jobs, communities, and our precious marine life.”

Australia’s largest marine restoration initiative to date, Reef Builder and subsequent efforts have restored 64 hectares of shellfish reefs at 21 sites across southern and eastern Australia’s coastline, from Perth in Western Australia to Noosa, Queensland. The project has been supported by funding from the Australian Government, state governments, corporate partners and generous philanthropists.

Those 21 sites are just the beginning; TNC aims to rebuild 60 reefs across Australia by 2030, restoring these critical coastal assets to 30% of their original locations. The organisation is partnering with government, natural resource management organisations, industry, Traditional Owners, community groups, recreational fishers and universities to achieve this ambitious target.

Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon. Murray Watt commended the project, saying, “This recognition from the UN as a World Restoration Flagship highlights Australia’s

leadership in marine ecosystem recovery. Shellfish reefs are natural solutions to some of our greatest conservation challenges, and Reef Builder has shown that restoring them at a national scale is not only possible – it’s transformative.

“Reef Builder delivers real benefits for nature and communities alike; supporting local jobs, strengthening coastal resilience, and revitalising biodiversity along our shorelines.”

More information about the Reef Builder project is available here. 

About the UN World Restoration Flagship Awards

The World Restoration Flagship awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) – which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. The awards track notable initiatives that support global commitments to restore one billion hectares – an area larger than China. Reef Builder is the only Australian conservation project to be acknowledged as a 2025 Flagship, and one of only three in the Flagship’s history.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It aims to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives. With over 194 Members, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.