Intertidal oyster reefs in Port Stephens. Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) were a prominent intertidal and subtidal marine habitat forming reefs on soft sediment in sheltered locations along the New South Wales coast. Subtidal reefs are likely to be functionally extinct and intertidal reefs are substantially reduced in extent. There are some remnant intertidal reefs in Port Stephens and NESP researchers have been investigating their structure to provide baselines for future restoration efforts. Researchers are also estimating their habitat value for fishes and invertebrates and role in water filtration to describe some of the potential benefits for repair.