The conservation effort returning lost seaweed to Sydney’s shores

The Operation Crayweed crew were joined by the Sydney Morning Herald last week to have a closer look at how their recently transplanted crayweed babies, or ‘craybies’, were doing at the Cabbage Tree Bay restoration site.  

Derrick Cruz, a research assistant on the project, explained that when it comes to measuring success, “It’s the next generation of crayweed plants we’re looking for.”

“When we put them back in the water, they think death is imminent and they immediately reproduce,” Derrick said.

“The day after we plant we notice the fish are frolicking in the crayweed, using it as habitat, [and] other species are eating it. The evidence is immediate really.”

Madeleine Langley, another research assistant on the team, spoke of the importance of engagement and outreach events when it comes to a community projects such as this, something that the Operation Crayweed team invests a lot of their time and energy into. “We want people to engage with it and actually go and see it as well,” Ms Langley said. “The heart can’t love what it doesn’t know.”

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