We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest Green Ocean environmental project to re-introduce native European Flat oysters back into Dublin Bay after an absence of almost 200 years.
The objective of this project is to establish an oyster brood stock so that the stock of oysters will naturally expand and regenerate forming reefs in the environs of Dublin Bay. Oysters are a keystone species in terms of promoting habitat biodiversity and stabilising the sea floor to allow sea grass and other sea weeds to propagate. This in turn provides an excellent environment for fish and other marine life to spawn and seek shelter.
Ultimately this project is about using oysters as a nature based climate solution to deliver the following benefits :
- Oyster reefs protect the coast line against storm surge
- Increasing atmospheric carbon sequestration as seagrass and oysters are significant carbon sinks. Seagrass absorbs carbon 35 times faster than an equivalent area of rain forest.
- An oyster filters 190 litres of water a day of algae and nutrients which improves water quality allowing sun light to penetrate the sea floor.
- Oyster reefs are ideal nursery grounds for fish and other marine life which is essential in enhancing biodiversity through habitat restoration.
Working alongside UCD marine science department we sourced just under 600 mature oysters from Tralee for deployment in ‘Oyster Garden’ baskets in Malahide, Poolbeg and Dun Laoghaire Marinas. The oyster gardens are suspended from the marina pontoon walk ways which are an ideal location to maximise their spawning potential. A female oyster releases up to 1.5m eggs into the water every July / August. The fertilised eggs called ‘spat’ attach themselves to any hard surface (including other oysters) and reach maturity in 3 years and the reproduction process commences.
Over the coming years we hope to expand this project with more oyster gardens and more locations to improve the project’s efficacy.
As part of the funding solution for this project, we have launched a new Green Ocean Coffee blend called Kish, named after the iconic lighthouse that guards Dublin Bay to the east. Kish is a blend of speciality grade arabica coffee beans from Columbia and Brazil roasted to a medium / light profile. It is beautiful coffee that is idea for any café or office that wants premium quality with transparent sustainability credentials but remains competitively priced.
Getting to this stage of the project has only been possible with the support of many organisations including Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Dun Laoghaire Marina, Malahide Marina, Poolbeg Marina, The Marine Institute, The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and the EPA. We are so appreciate of all the encouragement and facilitation we have received and this ambitious project would not have been possible without this.
If you would like to find out more about Green Ocean Coffee and our other project in Clew Bay then please visit the Green Ocean Coffee website on https://greenoceancoffee.ie/
So if you would like to get involved, then the easiest way is to choose Green Ocean Coffee but if you would like to get more involved then you can sponsor an oyster garden or volunteer to look after some oysters. One of the really great aspects of this project is its accessibility for anybody to get involved and find out more. Follow us on our social media platforms on Tik Tok and Instagram to see what’s currently happening.
