Marine scientists aim to restore native flat oyster reefs around the coast
Posted on: 24 October 2025
Researchers from Trinity are collaborating on a new €1.5 million all-island project, funded by the Marine Institute, to restore native flat oyster reefs and enhance coastal resilience. The five-year project, which began recently, will evaluate selected sites for these reefs along the coastlines of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The project (BRICONS) will contribute to the wider protection and recovery of marine habitats and support Ireland’s commitments under the EU Nature Restoration Law, which requires Member States to submit National Restoration Plans for native flat oyster reefs.
Working closely with Irish ports, harbour authorities, and coastal community groups, researchers will establish pilot restoration sites to demonstrate how oyster reefs can serve as viable Nature-Based Solutions for managing coastal change and sustaining marine biodiversity.
Prof. Nessa O’Connor, Professor in Zoology in Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, is one of the key collaborators. She said: “Our native oysters have been almost wiped out across Europe and now restoration efforts must consider their changing environment.”
“At Trinity, we will be testing how our native oysters respond to changes in our coasts, such as warming oceans, acidification and emerging contaminants. This research is essential to design better restoration practices, which are vital to improve the resilience of our coasts.”
“Restoring habitat created by living organisms, such as oyster reefs, not only enhances biodiversity but also improves water quality and provides an element of coastal protection from storms.”
BRICONS is led by Dr Paul Brooks from the School of Biology and Environmental Science at UCD. The project brings together other experts from UCD, Atlantic Technological University and Queen’s University Belfast, and the funding will support five research positions across these institutions to build capacity in this important area of research.
Speaking about the project, Dr Paul Brooks, Project Coordinator, said: “This project aims to evaluate how nature-based solutions (NbS) such as oyster reef restoration can enhance the resilience of our coasts and marine ecosystems. We will assess how these reefs can stabilise sediments, improve biodiversity, enhance water quality, and provide a natural buffer to the impacts of climate change all while supporting the sustainable use of our harbours and ports.”
Dr Niall McDonough, Director of Policy, Innovation and Research Services at the Marine Institute, added: “The Marine Institute is delighted to support the BRICONS project, which exemplifies the strength of North–South collaboration and the value of science in shaping sustainable coastal management. Restoring native oyster reefs offers an exciting opportunity to enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem resilience, and deliver real climate action through nature-based solutions.”
BRICONS is carried out with the support of the Marine Institute under the Marine Research Programme, funded by the Government of Ireland. BRICONS was one of the successful awards under the 2024 call “The Changing Use of Ireland's Ocean: Measuring and Monitoring the Impacts on Our Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems.”
For more information, visit the project website at: www.briconsproject.com
Media Contact:
Thomas Deane | Media Relations | deaneth@tcd.ie | +353 1 896 4685