OzFish will expand its seagrass restoration project ‘Seeds for Snapper’ to include waters around the southern Fleurieu coast this summer.

It is urging recreational anglers and the community to support the project and chip in to help improve water quality, protect the coastline and boost native fish numbers in local waters.

People can get involved by beachcombing for seeds; collecting seeds in a boat; processing seeds at the holding tanks; dropping the sandbags from boats; and spreading the word.

Seagrass fruit harvesting and seed dispersal season takes place from late November until early January.

Once collected, the fruits are processed in saltwater popup tanks and the resulting seeds sewn into environmentally friendly biodegradable sandbags. 

The sandbags of seeds are then dispersed, by boat, at strategic locations identified by marine scientists.

OzFish has been leading the restoration of seagrass meadows in South Australia since 2020.

For the last two years its focus has been along Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline but it will now launch a second SA Seeds for Snapper project on the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

It says seagrass meadows are an important nursery ground for snapper, calamari, whiting and blue swimmer crabs. 

This new project will trial methods to rehabilitate degraded seagrass in the waters surrounding the Fleurieu Peninsula.

OzFish will hold an information session in Victor Harbor on Saturday 12 November for anyone who would like to get involved.

Potential volunteers can find out about the OzFish Fleurieu project on the website and register to attend the information session.