A sustainable seafood party!

South Melbourne Market's much loved Mussel & Jazz Festival is helping restore Port Phillip Bay's decimated shellfish reefs.

Taking place on March 9 and 10 from 12pm until late, the festival is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy by recycling all used shells, which are then used to rebuild reefs.

The project has restored 2.5 hectares of shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay and, with guests expected to finish more than 200,000 mussels over the course of the festival, those reefs can expect to become a lot bigger!

Guests are expected to finish more than 200,000 mussels, prepared by Melbourne’s top chefs and restaurants including local traders Aptus, South Melbourne Seafood, Bambu, Claypot Evening Star, Paco y Lola, Koy and Simply Spanish and recycle them.

The shells will then be collected from the specially-provided bins to be cured and be used for rebuilding shellfish reefs.

South Melbourne Market general manager Ian Sumpter said this initiative was another way the market was being made as sustainable as possible.

“This partnership enables us to reduce our environmental footprint by decreasing waste and landfill, while helping The Nature Conservancy in their important work to restore our bay’s precious shellfish ecosystems,” he said.

Mayor Dick Gross said the project aligned well with the council’s Love Our Bay campaign.

“Festivalgoers can head along to one of Melbourne’s most unique festivals – a seafood street party celebrating some of the city’s hottest jazz artists – knowing they also have the opportunity to give back to their bay,” he said.

Besides the irresistible delicacies, the festival also presents impressive artists including The Senegambian Jazz Band, The Sugarfood Ramblers and Chelsea Wilson.

southmelbournemarket.com.au/mussel-festival