Green Ocean Oyster Restoration Project 1 Year On

17 October 2025
Green Ocean Oyster Restoration Project 1 Year On
We caught up with David Lawlor from the Green Ocean Foundation Oyster Restoration project this week. David was checking in on the 30 oyster baskets around the marina which are part of a marine conservation initiative aimed at restoring native European flat oysters to Dublin Bay.
 
The reason for their re-introduction is that oysters can be described as 'kidneys of the sea'. They filter seawater at a rate of 190 litres per day, removing excess nitrates, plankton, and algae.  Cleaner water improves visibility, which helps sunlight reach the sea floor. This in turn boosts growth of seaweeds and seagrass which are essential habitats for marine life.  
 
The project started in 2023 with 50 “Oyster Gardens” introduced to marinas in Dun Laoghaire, Malahide and at Poolbeg.  Additional Oyster Gardens were added here at Howth Yacht Club a year ago in October 2024.
 
 
The Oyster Gardens are baskets suspended one meter underwater from the pontoon walkways. David was checking in to clean the baskets and monitoring the health and growth rates of the oysters.
 
The good news is the oysters are growing and performing well. Long term, this means the project has the potential for expansion here, after the dredging project is complete.  In the meantime, the project is being expanded at other sites, with the introduction of a new flip-basket system in the oyster gardens at Dun Laoghaire in a couple of weeks time.  
 
The overall project goal is to establish a self-sustaining brood stock of oysters in Dublin Bay, which, over 15 to 20 years, will develop into reefs. These biogenic reefs will support the growth of seagrass and seaweed beds, helping marine biodiversity and creating a natural defence against coastal erosion.
 
The scientific name is for the European Flat Oyster is Ostrea edulis - native around the coast of Ireland and Northern Europe.  But our Green Ocean oysters are not for eating - they have a much bigger job restoring our oceans! 
 
 
Read more about Green Ocean Coffee, our suppliers here at HYC and their Green Ocean Foundation Dublin Bay Project.