Toxic Lyngbya algal blooms 'inevitable' in Moreton Bay if development continues unchecked, experts say

Seven days after every king tide, Greg Savige gets on his jet ski to look for algae. An Ecofutures report, published today by the Moreton Bay Foundation, says laws aimed at limiting sediment run-off from developments "effectively 'lock in' damage", even on well managed sites. Government blocking oyster reef restoration Oysters filter between three and 10 litres of water an hour, which Dr Diggles says "actually cleans up the bay". A reef restoration trial by Dr Diggles in Pumicestone Passage — between Bribie Island and the mainland — found sediment and algae disrupted the "recruitment" phase of the oyster reproductive process. "The issue in Moreton Bay is the vast majority of the bay is in Moreton Bay Marine Park, and in the marine park, shellfish reef restoration is currently banned — it's not permitted," Dr Diggles says.