Restoring the reefs we never knew we lost | Dominic McAfee | TEDxAdelaide

boy stirs we all know how great they are

boy stirs we all know how great they are though good for eating and sex right

though good for eating and sex right

though good for eating and sex right myths aside hoisters are loaded with

myths aside hoisters are loaded with

myths aside hoisters are loaded with zinc which is great for your fertility

zinc which is great for your fertility

zinc which is great for your fertility or your sperm count

or your sperm count

or your sperm count vitamin b12 to get you in the mood and

vitamin b12 to get you in the mood and

vitamin b12 to get you in the mood and glucose to keep your energy levels up

glucose to keep your energy levels up

glucose to keep your energy levels up hoisters are your one-stop party shop

hoisters are your one-stop party shop

hoisters are your one-stop party shop obviously I love oysters and while I’m

obviously I love oysters and while I’m

obviously I love oysters and while I’m eternally grateful for these familiar

eternally grateful for these familiar

eternally grateful for these familiar traits

traits

traits it’s the lesser-known oyster attributes

it’s the lesser-known oyster attributes

it’s the lesser-known oyster attributes that have really seduced me I’ve been

that have really seduced me I’ve been

that have really seduced me I’ve been studying these magnificent Mullis for

studying these magnificent Mullis for

studying these magnificent Mullis for six years now but just eight years ago I

six years now but just eight years ago I

six years now but just eight years ago I was training to be a geologist I

was training to be a geologist I

was training to be a geologist I remember one day I was studying rocks on

remember one day I was studying rocks on

remember one day I was studying rocks on the coast of Iceland when I stumbled

the coast of Iceland when I stumbled

the coast of Iceland when I stumbled across a giant whale it was long dead

across a giant whale it was long dead

across a giant whale it was long dead that washed up from a storm this putrid

that washed up from a storm this putrid

that washed up from a storm this putrid mass of rotting flesh had me captivated

mass of rotting flesh had me captivated

mass of rotting flesh had me captivated rotting flesh was dripping from its

rotting flesh was dripping from its

rotting flesh was dripping from its flipper exposing its skeletal hand and I

flipper exposing its skeletal hand and I

flipper exposing its skeletal hand and I nearly immediately noticed the

nearly immediately noticed the

nearly immediately noticed the similarity with my own hand that was it

similarity with my own hand that was it

similarity with my own hand that was it for me my light bulb moment I thought

for me my light bulb moment I thought

for me my light bulb moment I thought bugger geology it has to be biology and

bugger geology it has to be biology and

bugger geology it has to be biology and hopefully marine biology so I can study

hopefully marine biology so I can study

hopefully marine biology so I can study whales and dolphins and sharks all the

whales and dolphins and sharks all the

whales and dolphins and sharks all the cool animals so when my supervisor

cool animals so when my supervisor

cool animals so when my supervisor suggested I study oysters I thought

suggested I study oysters I thought

suggested I study oysters I thought you’ve got to be kidding me that is the

you’ve got to be kidding me that is the

you’ve got to be kidding me that is the least charismatic organism I can think

least charismatic organism I can think

least charismatic organism I can think of but as soon as I started reading

of but as soon as I started reading

of but as soon as I started reading about these lesson oh and talents of

about these lesson oh and talents of

about these lesson oh and talents of oysters and the intimate history that

oysters and the intimate history that

oysters and the intimate history that humans share with them I realize there’s

humans share with them I realize there’s

humans share with them I realize there’s a really big story here that needs to be

a really big story here that needs to be

a really big story here that needs to be told you see not that long ago

told you see not that long ago

told you see not that long ago Easter’s formed tremendously large reefs

Easter’s formed tremendously large reefs

Easter’s formed tremendously large reefs along

along

along all the temperate coastlines of the

all the temperate coastlines of the

all the temperate coastlines of the world wherever the sea was not too

world wherever the sea was not too

world wherever the sea was not too tropical or too icy or rough choices

tropical or too icy or rough choices

tropical or too icy or rough choices would grow on top of one another to form

would grow on top of one another to form

would grow on top of one another to form reefs of tremendous size in South

reefs of tremendous size in South

reefs of tremendous size in South Australia alone we know there was 1,500

Australia alone we know there was 1,500

Australia alone we know there was 1,500 kilometers of oyster reef with reefs

kilometers of oyster reef with reefs

kilometers of oyster reef with reefs extending up and down the East

extending up and down the East

extending up and down the East Australian coast and around Tasmania

Australian coast and around Tasmania

Australian coast and around Tasmania the great oyster reefs of Australia

the great oyster reefs of Australia

the great oyster reefs of Australia would have rivaled the extent of our

would have rivaled the extent of our

would have rivaled the extent of our Great Barrier Reef for thousands of

Great Barrier Reef for thousands of

Great Barrier Reef for thousands of years these reefs sustained coastal

years these reefs sustained coastal

years these reefs sustained coastal communities around the world

communities around the world

communities around the world Easter’s helped drag us out of the cave

Easter’s helped drag us out of the cave

Easter’s helped drag us out of the cave and down to the cove a nutritious meat

and down to the cove a nutritious meat

and down to the cove a nutritious meat that can’t run away moist is likely

that can’t run away moist is likely

that can’t run away moist is likely fueled much of our early coastal

fueled much of our early coastal

fueled much of our early coastal migration the traditional owners of this

migration the traditional owners of this

migration the traditional owners of this land didn’t just feast on oysters they

land didn’t just feast on oysters they

land didn’t just feast on oysters they fashion knives and fish hooks from their

fashion knives and fish hooks from their

fashion knives and fish hooks from their shells

shells

shells we know oysters were so globally

we know oysters were so globally

we know oysters were so globally important for so long because of the

important for so long because of the

important for so long because of the enormous shell middens we find dotting

enormous shell middens we find dotting

enormous shell middens we find dotting the coastline all around the world these

the coastline all around the world these

the coastline all around the world these middens

middens

middens basically deposits of you shell could be

basically deposits of you shell could be

basically deposits of you shell could be up to four football fields in size

up to four football fields in size

up to four football fields in size containing 14 million shells per cubic

containing 14 million shells per cubic

containing 14 million shells per cubic metre that’s a lot of food eating over a

metre that’s a lot of food eating over a

metre that’s a lot of food eating over a long period of time the oldest shells in

long period of time the oldest shells in

long period of time the oldest shells in Australia are dated to 9,000 years

what’s astonishing to me is that a

what’s astonishing to me is that a hundred and eighty years ago these reefs

hundred and eighty years ago these reefs

hundred and eighty years ago these reefs were carpeting the seafloor just

were carpeting the seafloor just

were carpeting the seafloor just offshore here yet few people know that

offshore here yet few people know that

offshore here yet few people know that they ever existed so what happened well

they ever existed so what happened well

they ever existed so what happened well unsurprisingly shortly after Europeans

unsurprisingly shortly after Europeans

unsurprisingly shortly after Europeans arrived a wave of voice to exploitation

arrived a wave of voice to exploitation

arrived a wave of voice to exploitation spread out up and down the coast with

spread out up and down the coast with

spread out up and down the coast with the early colonists struggling to grow

the early colonists struggling to grow

the early colonists struggling to grow crops oysters provided essential

crops oysters provided essential

crops oysters provided essential nutrition but they weren’t just

nutrition but they weren’t just

nutrition but they weren’t just harvested for their meat when you burn

harvested for their meat when you burn

harvested for their meat when you burn oyster shell you produce lime from which

oyster shell you produce lime from which

oyster shell you produce lime from which you can manufacture cement quite

you can manufacture cement quite

you can manufacture cement quite literally colonial Australia was laid

literally colonial Australia was laid

literally colonial Australia was laid down with

down with

down with to cement colonial Australia was built

to cement colonial Australia was built

to cement colonial Australia was built on the backs of oysters in fact built in

on the backs of oysters in fact built in

on the backs of oysters in fact built in 1863 at the height of the local oyster

1863 at the height of the local oyster

1863 at the height of the local oyster harvest there may well be all stirs in

harvest there may well be all stirs in

harvest there may well be all stirs in the walls here today 170 years ago

the walls here today 170 years ago

the walls here today 170 years ago locals claimed that this these reefs

locals claimed that this these reefs

locals claimed that this these reefs were inexhaustible but just 30 years

were inexhaustible but just 30 years

were inexhaustible but just 30 years later this ecosystem had completely

later this ecosystem had completely

later this ecosystem had completely collapsed we dredged every oyster bed we

collapsed we dredged every oyster bed we

collapsed we dredged every oyster bed we could find the industry was so boom and

could find the industry was so boom and

could find the industry was so boom and bust it quickly became part of our

bust it quickly became part of our

bust it quickly became part of our forgotten history imagine future

forgotten history imagine future

forgotten history imagine future generations of Australians growing up

generations of Australians growing up

generations of Australians growing up blissfully unaware that the Great

blissfully unaware that the Great

blissfully unaware that the Great Barrier Reef ever existed that is the

Barrier Reef ever existed that is the

Barrier Reef ever existed that is the reality of our once great oyster reefs

reality of our once great oyster reefs

reality of our once great oyster reefs this was and this loss was an

this was and this loss was an

this was and this loss was an environmental tragedy because the humble

environmental tragedy because the humble

environmental tragedy because the humble oyster is in fact an ecological

oyster is in fact an ecological

oyster is in fact an ecological superhero much like coral reefs in

superhero much like coral reefs in

superhero much like coral reefs in tropical seas or trees in a forest

tropical seas or trees in a forest

tropical seas or trees in a forest moister –zz grow habitats within which

moister –zz grow habitats within which

moister –zz grow habitats within which other species thrive moister reefs are

other species thrive moister reefs are

other species thrive moister reefs are like marine mega cities of invertebrates

like marine mega cities of invertebrates

like marine mega cities of invertebrates thousands of tiny critters living at

thousands of tiny critters living at

thousands of tiny critters living at really high density these critters

really high density these critters

really high density these critters provide a lot of fish food and many fish

provide a lot of fish food and many fish

provide a lot of fish food and many fish also lay their eggs and use the reefs as

also lay their eggs and use the reefs as

also lay their eggs and use the reefs as nursery habitats basically more oysters

nursery habitats basically more oysters

nursery habitats basically more oysters more fish in the sea moist is feed by

more fish in the sea moist is feed by

more fish in the sea moist is feed by filtering particles out of the water

filtering particles out of the water

filtering particles out of the water column and as such play a starring role

column and as such play a starring role

column and as such play a starring role in coastal water quality and they’re

in coastal water quality and they’re

in coastal water quality and they’re really bloody good at it one oyster can

really bloody good at it one oyster can

really bloody good at it one oyster can filter about a bathtub of water a day if

filter about a bathtub of water a day if

filter about a bathtub of water a day if you multiply that by the millions of

you multiply that by the millions of

you multiply that by the millions of oysters that make up a reef then oyster

oysters that make up a reef then oyster

oysters that make up a reef then oyster reefs become the kidneys of our

reefs become the kidneys of our

reefs become the kidneys of our coastline capable of filtering large

coastline capable of filtering large

coastline capable of filtering large quantities of our pollution out of the

quantities of our pollution out of the

quantities of our pollution out of the water column we spend billions of

water column we spend billions of

water column we spend billions of dollars on wastewater treatment plants

dollars on wastewater treatment plants

dollars on wastewater treatment plants when oysters can do the same job for

when oysters can do the same job for

when oysters can do the same job for free hoist is

free hoist is

free hoist is even slow the rate of climate change

even slow the rate of climate change

even slow the rate of climate change because the reefs are a carbon sink

because the reefs are a carbon sink

because the reefs are a carbon sink atmospheric carbon dioxide gets absorbed

atmospheric carbon dioxide gets absorbed

atmospheric carbon dioxide gets absorbed into the ocean and oysters use carbon to

into the ocean and oysters use carbon to

into the ocean and oysters use carbon to grow their calcium carbonate shells

grow their calcium carbonate shells

grow their calcium carbonate shells locking up the carbon for the long haul

locking up the carbon for the long haul

locking up the carbon for the long haul putting all these services together much

putting all these services together much

putting all these services together much like coral reefs oyster reefs can build

like coral reefs oyster reefs can build

like coral reefs oyster reefs can build the resilience of ecosystems to

the resilience of ecosystems to

the resilience of ecosystems to environmental change so we can think of

environmental change so we can think of

environmental change so we can think of their conservation as a sort of climate

their conservation as a sort of climate

their conservation as a sort of climate change adaptation strategy however in

change adaptation strategy however in

change adaptation strategy however in Australia we’ve lost over 99% of our

Australia we’ve lost over 99% of our

Australia we’ve lost over 99% of our oyster reefs in fact there is just one

oyster reefs in fact there is just one

oyster reefs in fact there is just one reef left in Australia and the story is

reef left in Australia and the story is

reef left in Australia and the story is much the same all around the world with

much the same all around the world with

much the same all around the world with the vast majority of reefs either in a

the vast majority of reefs either in a

the vast majority of reefs either in a very poor condition or as they are here

very poor condition or as they are here

very poor condition or as they are here in Australia considered functionally

in Australia considered functionally

in Australia considered functionally extinct but while this sounds all doom

extinct but while this sounds all doom

extinct but while this sounds all doom and gloom and certainly it doesn’t look

and gloom and certainly it doesn’t look

and gloom and certainly it doesn’t look good today this is an opportunity

good today this is an opportunity

good today this is an opportunity without ever building oyster knowledge

without ever building oyster knowledge

without ever building oyster knowledge and an impassioned community we can give

and an impassioned community we can give

and an impassioned community we can give something really meaningful back to

something really meaningful back to

something really meaningful back to nature the good news is sitting just

nature the good news is sitting just

nature the good news is sitting just offshore about 80 kilometres from where

offshore about 80 kilometres from where

offshore about 80 kilometres from where I stand the largest oyster reef

I stand the largest oyster reef

I stand the largest oyster reef restoration project in the world has

restoration project in the world has

restoration project in the world has just started here sorry in this southern

just started here sorry in this southern

just started here sorry in this southern hemisphere not quite the world we’re

hemisphere not quite the world we’re

hemisphere not quite the world we’re restoring 20 hectares of native flat

restoring 20 hectares of native flat

restoring 20 hectares of native flat oyster that’s 24 football pitches worth

oyster that’s 24 football pitches worth

oyster that’s 24 football pitches worth of oysters or worth of oyster reef we’re

of oysters or worth of oyster reef we’re

of oysters or worth of oyster reef we’re dragging these oyster reefs back from

dragging these oyster reefs back from

dragging these oyster reefs back from functional extinction how do you build

functional extinction how do you build

functional extinction how do you build an oyster reef first you find a site

an oyster reef first you find a site

an oyster reef first you find a site where Auster’s once thrived tick you lay

where Auster’s once thrived tick you lay

where Auster’s once thrived tick you lay foundations in this case we’re laying

foundations in this case we’re laying

foundations in this case we’re laying limestone which is common on the

limestone which is common on the

limestone which is common on the coastline here and then you breed

coastline here and then you breed

coastline here and then you breed millions of oysters in the hatchery

millions of oysters in the hatchery

millions of oysters in the hatchery settle them on used oyster shell and

settle them on used oyster shell and

settle them on used oyster shell and then we can swim down and plant those on

then we can swim down and plant those on

then we can swim down and plant those on the reef in time they’ll grow and

the reef in time they’ll grow and

the reef in time they’ll grow and smother the reef

smother the reef

smother the reef my role is to maximize the survivorship

my role is to maximize the survivorship

my role is to maximize the survivorship and recruitment of baby oysters to the

and recruitment of baby oysters to the

and recruitment of baby oysters to the reef some of the six year science that

reef some of the six year science that

reef some of the six year science that we’re pursuing involves manipulating the

we’re pursuing involves manipulating the

we’re pursuing involves manipulating the signals that baby oysters used to find

signals that baby oysters used to find

signals that baby oysters used to find their home you see before

their home you see before

their home you see before Easter’s are the familiar dormant cells

Easter’s are the familiar dormant cells

Easter’s are the familiar dormant cells they are free swimming little larvae in

they are free swimming little larvae in

they are free swimming little larvae in the water column looking for a place to

the water column looking for a place to

the water column looking for a place to settle down for their life

settle down for their life

settle down for their life if you’ve ever snorkelled on a healthy

if you’ve ever snorkelled on a healthy

if you’ve ever snorkelled on a healthy sounding reef you’ve probably heard this

that’s the sound of thousands of little

that’s the sound of thousands of little critters going about their daily lives

critters going about their daily lives

critters going about their daily lives living inside a reef incredibly oyster

living inside a reef incredibly oyster

living inside a reef incredibly oyster babies listen for this sound as they

babies listen for this sound as they

babies listen for this sound as they find a healthy reef and they draw closer

find a healthy reef and they draw closer

find a healthy reef and they draw closer they sniff for other oyster for other

they sniff for other oyster for other

they sniff for other oyster for other oysters to settle on if one is to live

oysters to settle on if one is to live

oysters to settle on if one is to live there it’s probably a good place for me

there it’s probably a good place for me

there it’s probably a good place for me to live as well using underwater

to live as well using underwater

to live as well using underwater speakers and crushed up oyster shell we

speakers and crushed up oyster shell we

speakers and crushed up oyster shell we can enhance these audio and chemical

can enhance these audio and chemical

can enhance these audio and chemical cues so we can get more baby oysters to

cues so we can get more baby oysters to

cues so we can get more baby oysters to settle where we need them most on the

settle where we need them most on the

settle where we need them most on the reef pretty cool this exciting project

reef pretty cool this exciting project

reef pretty cool this exciting project really puts South Australia and Adelaide

really puts South Australia and Adelaide

really puts South Australia and Adelaide in a global spotlight for marine

in a global spotlight for marine

in a global spotlight for marine restoration but really from start to

restoration but really from start to

restoration but really from start to finish this project is about community

finish this project is about community

finish this project is about community the reef is there for community to enjoy

the reef is there for community to enjoy

the reef is there for community to enjoy it’s a recreational reef for fishing and

it’s a recreational reef for fishing and

it’s a recreational reef for fishing and diving the reef wouldn’t exist if it

diving the reef wouldn’t exist if it

diving the reef wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for community members speaking

wasn’t for community members speaking

wasn’t for community members speaking out about environmental conservation and

out about environmental conservation and

out about environmental conservation and as a multi-generational restoration

as a multi-generational restoration

as a multi-generational restoration project the future of this reef also

project the future of this reef also

project the future of this reef also depends on community support so please

depends on community support so please

depends on community support so please be vocal get involved where you can and

be vocal get involved where you can and

be vocal get involved where you can and enjoy the reef if we get this right this

enjoy the reef if we get this right this

enjoy the reef if we get this right this reef will be here for generations to

reef will be here for generations to

reef will be here for generations to enjoy

enjoy

enjoy one last thing I’d like to say eat more

one last thing I’d like to say eat more

one last thing I’d like to say eat more oysters they are delicious

oysters they are delicious

oysters they are delicious don’t eat these oysters though we’re

don’t eat these oysters though we’re

don’t eat these oysters though we’re laying them down for the future please

laying them down for the future please

laying them down for the future please don’t eat these oysters but our farmers

don’t eat these oysters but our farmers

don’t eat these oysters but our farmers produce beautiful roosters and as

produce beautiful roosters and as

produce beautiful roosters and as brainless filter-feeding shell building

brainless filter-feeding shell building

brainless filter-feeding shell building animals is probably the most ethical

animals is probably the most ethical

animals is probably the most ethical meat treat you’ll ever lay eat enjoy

meat treat you’ll ever lay eat enjoy

meat treat you’ll ever lay eat enjoy some oysters today and feel the

some oysters today and feel the

some oysters today and feel the connection to the sea that has

connection to the sea that has

connection to the sea that has captivated humanity for millennia thank

captivated humanity for millennia thank

captivated humanity for millennia thank you

you

you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]