Scientists have created a colony of Sydney rock oysters in the harbour — but they’re strictly not for eating

THE rock oysters at Waverton are no good for eating, but they are good at filtering water - and marine scientists hope they can clean up Sydney Harbour.

Unlike these tasty looking morsels, the oysters at Waverton are not for eating.

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OYSTERS are taking part in a science project in the waters of Sydney Harbour.

Specially designed tiles have been fitted to the seawall at Waverton to provide homes for the shelled creatures.

“The idea is to look at techniques for green engineering,” said Dr Beth Strain from the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences (SIMS).

Oysters have an impressive ability to clean up the environment as one creature can filter half a litre of sea water in an hour.

Associate Prof Melanie Bishop and Dr Beth Strain with one of the specially-designed tiles.

The team from SIMS are trying to find out whether building microhabitats with the tiles can increase biodiversity and filtration rates.

And the project is also aiming to replicate the banks of oysters that once lived throughout the harbour.

“It’s trying to enhance what’s been lost in Sydney Harbour in terms of oyster reefs,” she said.

The oysters are growing on a man-made reef at Waverton.

The Sydney rock oysters were sourced from the aquaculture industry and installed into the tiles.

They have grown three times their original size and Dr Strain has found they are particularly happy in the crevices.

The oysters have also been joined by limpets, gastropods, lichens and fish.

However, these oysters won’t be turning up on a bed of ice any time soon as they take in the heavy metals from the harbour.

“They are not good for eating,” Dr Strain.

The tiles on which the oysters are growing.