Marine Team — Citizen Science
Testing whether mussels will grow on rope wrapped around existing structures in Tasman Bay — a simple, low-cost way to help restore marine biodiversity.
Marine biodiversity in Tasman Bay is essential for healthy ecosystems, local kaimoana, and resilience to environmental change. Mussels play a key role by filtering water, improving clarity, and creating habitats for other marine life. If growing them on rope works, it could be an easier alternative to building large artificial reefs — helping restore ecosystems more quickly and affordably.
How the experiment worked
1 · Volunteer a location
Find poles or surfaces that extend into the sea and stay submerged at least at high tide.
2 · Gather materials
Use natural-fibre rope (they used sisal rope). It's biodegradable and attracts marine organisms better than synthetic options.
3 · Secure your rope
Tie it firmly using a clove hitch — secure yet adjustable — so it hangs into the water through changing tides.
4 · Document & share
Photograph the rope weekly or fortnightly and note the location — building a shared record of what grows where.
How they set it up
The team wrapped ropes around the support poles at the Boatshed at low, medium, and high heights — to see which height would attract more marine-life growth. Photos were taken regularly, and results compared across the three heights.
Early results — 23 June 2025
Marine biodiversity in Tasman Bay
- 🦪Green-lipped mussels — high in omega-3s and used in pharmaceuticals as anti-inflammatories.
- 🌿Diverse algae — seaweeds and algae form the foundation of the marine ecosystem.
- 🦐Invertebrates — small crustaceans, molluscs, and others may colonise the rope over time.
The project was run in collaboration with the Cawthron Institute, contributing to research data on how marine biodiversity develops in the bay.
Part of the Earthminds Nelson pilot
This was one of six youth-led projects in the 2025 pilot.