Community mussels in to improve waterways
Published on 13 April 2026
A new project in the Onkaparinga River shows the power of citizen scientists and community-led action.
A new community-led project focused on the Onkaparinga River ecosystem is highlighting the power of citizen science and local action. When OzFish began exploring shellfish restoration opportunities in the region, they first turned to local citizen science records. Those records revealed observations of tiny mussels in the Onkaparinga River, later confirmed as the black pygmy mussel (Xenostrobus securis). While small in size, these mussels hold significant potential to improve the river’s water quality.
“Like oysters and marine mussels, freshwater mussels are powerful filter‑feeders. They naturally remove excess nutrients and algae from the water column, helping to improve water quality and reduce conditions that can fuel algal blooms. Basically, the more mussels in the river, the better,” explains Brad Martin, Project Manager OzFish South Australia.
After reviewing the citizen scientist accounts, Brad saw an opportunity to trial a mussel restoration project in the river. “We already had a black pygmy mussel restoration method from OzFish Western Australia, but we needed to do field assessments to validate that the species were in the Onkaparinga River system, and that there was a viable population to do restoration work”, said Brad.
The trial to boost pygmy mussel beds was then launched. Because mussels naturally cluster in large groups, the project involves laying biodegradable coir fibre mats in the brackish water of the river to encourage mussel settlement and growth. As mussel numbers increase, their filter‑feeding capacity will improve water quality for the river.
To support the work, OzFish successfully applied for a council, Connected and Sustainable Communities Grant to deliver the trial as a community‑led project. The funding supported a community deployment day and waterbug bioblitz events, as well as materials for the mussel mats.
During the deployment event, 40 volunteers built and installed 48 coir mats in the river, and a recent bioblitz event with Tikkandi students resulted in another 50 mats being added. The total number of mats now installed around the river is 146, with early signs showing that pygmy black mussels, jingle shells, and a range of gobies, shrimps and snails are already inhabiting the mats that have been surveyed.
City of Onkaparinga Grants Advisor, Hannah Sarsons explains why the council offers grants. “The council engages in grant making because we know we can’t achieve great things in the region on our own – we need to partner with community, businesses, and not for profits”.
Speaking about the grant received by OzFish, Hannah said “The grant submission showed the project had clear alignment to the council’s Community Vision 2034 objectives, and it responded to a high priority issue within the region (waterway health). It also had a strong focus on community participation”.
OzFish’s Mussel up for black bream project is South Australia’s first mussel restoration project.
More information visit ozfish.org.au/chapters/adelaide