From Storm Damage to Success: The Ōpito Bay Scallop Project Builds Resilience
When Cyclone Tam swept through Ōpito Bay in April 2025, it could have ended our community scallop regeneration project. Instead, it became a catalyst for innovation and demonstrated the resilience of both our marine restoration efforts and our community spirit.
Season 1: Proof of Concept Despite Challenges
Season 1 got off to a reasonably late start, mostly due to the complexities of the Resource consent process required for the project. Thanks to some complex work behind the scenes, the Resource Consent was granted for the three years. This was a key requirement if the project is to succeed to its full potential.
Despite starting late and facing cyclone damage, the results validated our approach. Cyclone Tam arrived in the area in April and provided significant wind and swell to the rig deployment areas. Unfortunately there was a lot of gear damage, with some cages and floats getting washed up on Ōpito beach and 7 rigs in total that needed diver recovery.
This was indeed unfortunate but it has been accepted with some positivity within the Ōpito community and some creative “bullet proofing” of the rig design has since been implemented. The project successfully collected 281 scallops, proving the viability of community-led, iwi-partnered restoration even under challenging conditions.
Recovery and Innovation
In May 2025 we carried out a “recover and consolidate” mission which involved a 3-day marine working-bee with Logan Marine Projects Ltd and various local dive and onboard support personnel. This wasn’t just about salvaging equipment – it was about learning and improving.
The recovery of the seven rigs and relocation of marker lights was carried out and three new rigs were set up near Rabbit Island to provide a test bed for both the new rig design and the grow-out of the few hundred juvenile scallops successfully caught.
The new rig design addresses the weaknesses exposed by the cyclone. The new design allows for easier maintenance, removing the need for lifting the rigs. The design is more robust with high quality dyneema line and damping qualities to better withstand storms. These improvements mean the rigs are expected to withstand future weather events while also being easier for volunteers to maintain.
Season 2: Scaling for Impact
Moving into Season 2 the new improved rig design to reduce gear failure will be deployed, providing easier maintenance. Earlier deployment is planned for the beginning of the season to target primary spawn. Also planned is more rigs — more cages, and targeted sites, to increase spat collection (based on season 1 data).
The expansion to Ahuahu is particularly significant. The new deployment at Home Bay, Ahuahu represents our first restoration attempt on this ecologically important island.
The expectation is that we can leverage off the learnings from Season 1 to significantly increase the numbers of collected and released juvenile scallops in Season 2. With optimal timing (October deployment for pre-spawning) and doubled capacity (100 lantern baskets), we’re demonstrating our commitment to achieving our combined restoration potential.
Community at the Heart
What makes this project special is its community/iwi partnership. Local divers, boat operators, and volunteers have turned storm damage into an opportunity. More community involvement is planned for Season 2, ensuring knowledge transfer and long-term sustainability.
Determining the end of the season will likely be dependent on the achieved growth rate of the scallops currently in the grow out cages. Bigger is likely better—achieving a shell size minimum of between 30mm and 50mm. This patient approach ensures released scallops have the best survival chances.
The Ōpito Tipa Regeneration Project proves that with shared mātauranga, determination, innovation, and community spirit, we can start working on restoring our marine taonga for future generations.
