Mr Mason Sullivan1, Dr Thomas Wernberg1,2, Dr Karen Filbee-Dexter1,2, Dr Melinda Coleman3,4,1, Dr Georgina Wood1
1University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 2Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway, 3New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia
Kelp forests dominate temperate coastlines, but are in decline in many regions of the world, and global rates of loss widely outpace current restoration efforts. The UN has declared 2021-2030 as “the decade of restoration” aiming to massively scale up ecosystem restoration efforts to promote resilience and reverse biodiversity loss. Tackling the global crisis facing kelp forests requires global collaboration to broadly develop and implement scalable restoration solutions that are tailored for success in localised conditions. Green Gravel is a technique that shows potential as a scalable restoration tool. It involves seeding small rocks or line with kelp propagules, rearing them in the laboratory and then out-planting them into the field. While the first Green Gravel trials began in the fjords of Norway, this technique is currently being adapted to different species of kelp around the world. To expedite the development of Green Gravel techniques globally, we established the Green Gravel Action Group, an international collaboration of researchers and practitioners that are developing and trialling the Green Gravel restoration technique. The GGAG aims to facilitate timely communication of research and develop general protocols for different kelp species, locations, and habitat. Many researchers in the GGAG are also utilising and adapting existing commercial aquaculture methods, potentially leveraging the commercial aquaculture sector to reduce costs, labour, and increase innovation. With global collaboration, the GGAG will help understand how and under what conditions this tool works best, and fast track its development as a cost-effective method to restore and future-proof kelp forests.
Biography:
I graduated with majors in Marine Science and Environmental Science from Murdoch University in Western Australia in 2016. I then left immediately for Mexico spending 6 months conducting coral reef and fish surveys on the Meso-American barrier reef. After returning to Western Australia I spent the next 3 years in Shark Bay at Ocean Park Aquarium as resident Marine Scientist, Tour Guide and Divemaster. I have been Research Assistant and Lab Manager with the Wernberg Lab for almost 3 years now.
