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This winter, Sydney’s underwater forests continue to grow
This winter, the Operation Crayweed team took another big step toward restoring Sydney’s lost underwater forests. Divers braved the chilly seas to establish three new restoration sites - at Bluefish Point, Coogee, and Wedding Cake Island – adding to the growing network of active crayweed restoration sites. Some of the earlier sites also received a winter “top-up,” helping to strengthen the forests that began there in previous years.
Planting in Lurline Bay, one of the several Sydney sites the team worked at this winter.
Now, as the water warms and spring approaches, divers will return to see how the sites are doing. Early signs look fantastic, as tiny new “craybies” (baby crayweed) have been spotted naturally sprouting across most restored sites – this is a sign that a new forest is developing. This season’s plantings will give the developing forests an extra boost and bring us closer to the goal of establishing crayweed forests that can take care of themselves along Sydney’s coastline.
Innovation was also in full swing this winter. The team trialled a new “bag method” for transplanting crayweed — a new technique that lets divers restore shallower, wave-exposed areas that are difficult to reach. One of the advantages of this method is that it uses fewer donor plants from healthy populations, which would make it a win for both restoration and sustainability. Divers will be checking in spring to see how this new approach performs under real-world conditions – stay tuned for updates!
‘Crayweed bag’ trial in Coogee.
And of course, no season would be complete without our community getting involved. Although one outreach event was postponed due to wild weather, the team is excited to announce it has been rescheduled for December 5th at Freshwater Beach, as part of the Manly Ocean Festival. It’ll be a chance for everyone to meet the team, learn about Sydney’s lost (and now reappearing) seaweed forests, and celebrate their comeback. Keep an eye on the Operation Crayweed Instagram for updates and event details!
Operation Crayweed wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of The Ian Potter Foundation, Investa, Patagonia, Sarah & Sebastian, and all the many people who have so kindly donated to our project, helping make this restoration journey possible. Thanks to all of you, Sydney’s underwater forests are returning, one patch of crayweed at a time!
South Maroubra and the craybies of summer 2025
Six months after the initial crayweed planting at South Maroubra, Operation Crayweed’s restoration efforts are showing promising signs of success. In May 2024, the team installed 30 temporary mats on a shallow reef to support crayweed transplantation. By the end of winter 2024, over 200 adult crayweed individuals were transplanted to these mats, with the help of Investa volunteers who assisted in preparation and documentation.
A survey conducted in February 2025 revealed that natural recruitment had exceeded expectations while none of the transplanted adults had survived—likely due to strong swells and high herbivory. Over 1,500 young crayweed recruits, or “craybies,” were recorded, with an average height of ~4 cm. These recruits extended over 10 meters beyond the original mats, demonstrating successful dispersal and establishment.
To enhance the survival of these recruits, a top-up planting was conducted in March 2025. This additional effort aims to restore a protective canopy and reduce the impact of herbivores on the developing crayweed forest. Despite the loss of the adult plants, the strong recruitment signals encourage progress in re-establishing this essential habitat.
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of this project. Investa volunteers played a crucial role in the transplantation process, from assessing donor plants to preparing them for their new environment. Additionally, social media outreach has helped raise awareness about the importance of crayweed restoration.
Operation Crayweed remains committed to monitoring and maintaining the site to ensure long-term success. The high recruitment numbers observed at South Maroubra highlight the resilience of crayweed and reinforce the importance of continued restoration efforts along Sydney’s coastline.
Thanks for the Investa and The Ian Potter Foundation support for our work.
Sea The Weed: Ceremony, Science, Snorkel
Hands-on experience opportunity alert! As part of our Ian Potter Foundation project, AIME’s Ocean Ambassadors will lead monthly ‘Sea the Weed: Ceremony, Science and Snorkelling’ events, on the last Friday of every month in 2025. These immersive experiences start with a ceremony grounded in traditional ways, including an in-depth explanation of the science behind kelp restoration and conclude with a guided snorkelling session at a restoration site.
See below some photos from an event from last year, which was attended by the Operation Crayweed team who provided an update on the project.
Please keep updated on the AIME social channels and the schedule below about where the next event will take place!
Restoration efforts supercharged by The Ian Potter Foundation
We are thrilled to announce that our initiative, Local to Global Strategies for Accelerating Kelp Restoration, has received funding from The Ian Potter Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organisation that provides grants to support initiatives in the arts, environment, education, health, and community wellbeing. This generous support will enable us to implement our plans over the next four years, with a focus on restoring crayweed forests at more critical sites along the Sydney coastline.
In collaboration with the Kelp Forest Alliance, this initiative aims to reconnect crayweed habitats, enhance the rich biodiversity they sustain, and contribute to the global mission of protecting and restoring 4 million hectares of kelp forests by 2040. These efforts will not only help safeguard marine ecosystems but also highlight Australia's role as a leader in marine restoration.
We are also proud to partner with AIME to share our collective story with the broader community. Through this partnership, we aim to foster a deeper connection to our underwater world, inspiring people to value and protect these vital ecosystems.
We are eager to embark on this important work and look forward to sharing our progress with you in the months and years ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us make a difference for our oceans!
Investa & Operation Crayweed: A successful partnership for restoration
Thanks to the partnership with Investa, Operation Crayweed has recently expanded restoration efforts to three new sites along the Sydney coastline, with inspiring results. Lurline Bay, Dee Why and South Maroubra were planted during the winter of 2024, by the Operation Crayweed team with the help of Investa volunteers.
In December 2024, surveys at the new restoration site in Dee Why revealed 466 crayweed recruits (‘craybies’). At Lurline Bay, first planted in late 2023 and ‘topped up’ in winter 2024, 416 recruits were recorded, up from just 10 last year. The tallest recruit there has already grown to 47 cm! The third site, South Maroubra, will be monitored in January 2025 – so stay tuned on our Instagram @thetrueoperationcrayweed for more news.
Making waves: athletes helping restore Sydney's marine ecosystem
On August 14, we at Operation Crayweed had the privilege of hosting a remarkable event, “The Ultimate Recovery Session,” at South Coogee Beach. Together with Gemba and some of Sydney’s most beloved athletes, we took another significant step toward restoring Sydney’s lost crayweed forests.
Thanks to Gemba’s generous support through their ‘Dividend for the Planet’ initiative, this event was not only possible but also impactful. Gemba allocated 2% of their annual profits to our cause and provided pro-bono services to help us organise this special day.
Athletes from teams like the GWS GIANTS, Sydney FC, and the Sydney Swifts braved the winter waters to assist in planting juvenile crayweed. Winter is the perfect time for crayweed growth, and these efforts are crucial for revitalising marine ecosystems.
We’re incredibly grateful to the athletes, volunteers, and supporters who joined us. As Professor Adriana Vergés highlighted, restoring crayweed brings back entire marine communities, ensuring healthier oceans for future generations.
This event was a testament to what we can achieve together. Thank you for helping us rebuild Sydney’s underwater forests, one crayweed at a time!
Compostable Hoodies to Fund Restoration
In an innovative collaboration, the Regenerators and AIME have introduced one of the world's first custom-designed, fully compostable hoodies made from seaweed. This initiative aims to raise $1 million to support the efforts of Operation Crayweed, by selling 2000 of these hoodies!
By purchasing one of these seaweed hoodies, you directly contribute to the reforestation of Sydney's underwater ecosystems. Each sale brings the project closer to its $1 million target, which will contribute to facilitating the re-establishment of crayweed in Sydney. This initiative not only offers a sustainable fashion choice, but also provides an opportunity to play a part in restoring Sydney's marine ecosystems. Huge thanks to AIME and the Regenerators for their unique and ambitious partnership, and to Damon Gameau for the fantastic video below!
Play and Learn! The Adventures of Reggie the Crayfish
Join us for a game of The Adventures of Reggie the Crayfish! The game can only be played on a computer. Scroll through the slides, click the links provided, make your own choices, and help Reggie find a home!
Science Meets Art at Balgowlah North Public School
A group of talented Year 4 students from Balgowlah North Public School have teamed up with artists Jennifer Turpin and Michaelie Crawford, curator Christiane Statham (Turpin + Crawford Studio), filmmakers from Lightwell Studio, and musician Ben Fink to create a unique animated film about Operation Crayweed.
The journey began with hands-on excursions to the Long Reef rock platform and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)’s Marine Lab in Chowder Bay, where the students discovered the science behind crayweed restoration. Inspired by their learning, they brought the project to life through drawing, songwriting, singing, and dancing, transforming marine science into a creative and engaging film.
This short film is the latest in an ongoing series of art and science collaborations between Turpin + Crawford Studio and Operation Crayweed. By blending creativity with environmental education, the project aimed at empowering young people to become ambassadors for ocean health, and at raising awareness about the vital role of restoring crayweed for the wellbeing of Sydney’s underwater ecosystems.
This project was supported by the John T Reid Foundation.
We are bringing crayweed back to Cabbage Tree Bay, in Manly!
Since starting our underwater gardening in 2011, Operation Crayweed has had the privilege of working at many beautiful coastal locations around Sydney. Now, Operation Crayweed has been given access to a very special and stunning location: the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, in Manly. Designated as a sanctuary zone in 2002 where no fishing is allowed, Cabbage Tree Bay is the first aquatic reserve we have worked in.
Volunteers from Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay assist with the sorting and measuring of crayweed before it is transplanted.
Some of the volunteers that joined the Operation Crayweed team at Cabbage Tree Bay.
Cabbage Tree Bay is a spectacular place in many regards. The traditional custodians of Cabbage Tree Bay, the Kameraigal clan, revered the bay for plentiful fishing and perfectly protected camping. Since the instalment of deep ocean outfalls and since becoming protected from fishing, Cabbage Tree bay has become one of the most diverse marine communities in Sydney, with over 50 invertebrate species and 160 fish species having been identified.
Nowadays Cabbage Tree bay has become famous for its dusky whalers congregations over Easter, the giant cuttlefish mating displays through the winter, and the vibrant and diverse fish communities all through the year.
Now, for the first time in roughly forty years, crayweed is one of the species found at
Cabbage Tree Bay.
It is through members of the local community that Operation Crayweed has been given the opportunity to bring crayweed back to the bay. Dorset Sutton and Jenny Lim (The Sutton-Lim Initiative) have partnered with Operation Crayweed and The Sydney Institute of Marine Science, with the shared goal of further enhancing the already vibrant underwater-scape of Cabbage Tree Bay.
With their help we have been able to ‘plant’ crayweed at three different locations around the bay, and now eagerly await the appearance of ‘craybies’.
The people that watch over Cabbage Tree Bay are a big part of what makes it such a special place, including the Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay community and the Bold & Beautiful swimming groups, who are present every day, protecting it and educating visitors.
The exciting task of preparing and planting crayweed was documented by the team at Grumpy Turtle Design. We are thrilled to have so many Cabbage Tree Bay locals, and marine enthusiasts join us in the project.
Operation Crayweed would also like to thank John T Reid Charitable Trusts for their ongoing contribution to this project.
The Future of the Pacific and its Societies
In June 2017, UNSW Sydney hosted the 21st Presidents Meeting & CEO Summit "The Future of the Pacific and its Societies".
This meeting brought together leaders from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) network to discuss issues affecting our region and to develop strategies that can have a meaningful impact on our region's future.
To mark the occasion, the Operation Crayweed team planted a new underwater crayweed forest in iconic Bondi Beach on behalf of all APRU delegates.
Operation Crayweed scuba diver drilling mats to assist the establishment of crayweed.
Check-out the video below to watch how this new APRU crayweed forest came into being. Filmed and edited by the talented John Turnbull, a.k.a. Marine Explorer!
Network Ten kid's Science TV show SCOPE
Watch our team tell the Crayweed story on the popular kid's Science TV show SCOPE!
Now on channel ten kids science show :)
We are featured on Episode 106, Season 3
Daily Telegraph and Southern Courier: "University of NSW project restores lost underwater forests", by Laura Aubusson
ONE of the most important species of seaweed along the NSW Coast has mysteriously disappeared from Sydney’s coastline.
The full article is available at: - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/university-of-nsw-project-restores-lost-underwater-forests/news-story/2fc4dc73ce14e70542f6f342c261e84b
One of the most important species of seaweed along the NSW Coast has mysteriously disappeared from Sydney’s coastline.
The missing sea forest, crayweed, disappeared 30 years ago from the city’s reef along with its associated sea life – abalone and crayfish.
But at Little Bay, Malabar and Bare Island, a team of University of NSW scientists have replanted the lost ocean trees to bring life back to our underwater “rocky deserts”.
Dr Ziggy Marzinelli and Dr Alexandra Campbell planted crayweed five years ago on small 5sq m patches at Long Bay and now it has reproduced more than 200sq m.
“Seaweed is like the trees of the ocean. Just like bringing trees into an area of land attracts birds and mammals, our aim is to restore the marine biodiversity in Sydney by providing a habitat and food supply,” Dr Campbell said.
They believe the seaweed was killed off between Palm beach and Cronulla by sewage pollution in the 1980s. But with improved water quality, the seaweed now thrives underwater.
“Everyone in Sydney loves going to the beach and enjoys the water but they may not realise that key things that define these reefs and beaches are starting to decline or disappear,” Dr Marzinelli said. “When you bring this seaweed back you also bring back all of the animals and biodiversity associated with it.”
Dr Marzinelli said along the NSW coastline, crayweed was one of two important habitat-forming species.
“Without it the oceans look like a rocky desert – extensive patches of bare rock, that’s all you would see,” he said.
“When you get this underwater forest, you see lots of different species, which is good for fishermen, divers and the marine system.”
The crowdsourcing campaign, Operation Crayweed – set up with Dr Adriana Verges – has raised $32,000 to help restore the underwater forests. They team is calling on dive clubs to sponsor one of 25 proposed sites – including Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly – to breathe life back into the sea.
Visit operationcrayweed.com to donate before the end of January.