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Why the Science Matters

At Green Ocean, we believe Ireland’s coastal ecosystems can recover. But belief alone isn’t enough. If we are asking communities, volunteers, businesses and supporters to invest their time, energy and resources, we need to be able to demonstrate that restoration is making a real difference. That’s why science sits at the heart of everything we do.

Working in partnership with Professor Fiona Regan and the team at Dublin City University’s Water Institute, we are building a detailed understanding of how native oysters can help restore water quality, support biodiversity and improve the health of our coastal environments.

Together, we are measuring, monitoring and documenting the impact of our restoration projects so that every step forward is guided by evidence.

The Goal is Simple:

  • To demonstrate the impact nature-based restoration has on our marine ecosystem.
  • To create a model that can be replicated in coastal communities across Ireland.

What the
Research is Showing

Native oysters once thrived in Dublin Bay. They filtered the water, created habitat for marine life and played an important role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems.

Their disappearance left a gap that has remained for more than two centuries.

Today, Green Ocean Foundation and DCU Water Institute are working together to understand how oysters as a keystone species can once again deliver their ecosystem service to enhance overall marine ecosystem health and resilience.

Science that Informs Restoration Activities

Since 2025, DCU researchers have been monitoring water quality in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, measuring factors such as water clarity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and nutrient levels. This work has established an important scientific baseline that will allow changes to be tracked over time.

Researchers are also investigating how oysters interact with contaminants present in urban coastal waters, including historic pollutants, agricultural runoff and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical residues.

Oysters are often described as ecosystem engineers because they create conditions that support other forms of life. As they feed, they filter particles from the water, improve water clarity and contribute to healthier marine habitats.

Since oysters both filter and accumulate materials from the surrounding environment, they can act as natural indicators of ecosystem health.
By studying oyster growth, survival and biological responses, researchers hope to better understand how environmental conditions change as restoration progresses.
Over the coming years, the partnership will continue to monitor water quality, oyster health, contaminant levels and wider ecological impacts.

The ambition is not simply to restore oysters. It is to generate the scientific evidence needed to demonstrate how healthy oyster populations can contribute to cleaner water, richer biodiversity and more resilient coastal ecosystems.

Every sample collected, every measurement taken and every oyster monitored helps build a clearer picture of how Ireland’s seas can recover.