Ostrea edulis reefs in Connemara. Pilot restoration sites will be established at a variety of coastal sites in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Photo: José María Farinas-Franco / BRICONS
A new €1.5 million research project has been launched to restore native oyster reefs and strengthen coastal resilience around Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The five-year BRICONS project (Building Resilient Irish Coasts through Oyster Restoration: A Nature-Based Solution for Enhancing Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems) is being funded by Ireland's Marine Institute under its Marine Research Programme.
Led by University College Dublin (UCD) in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the project began in June 2025 and will investigate how native flat oyster reefs can be restored at selected coastal sites.
According to UCD project coordinator Dr Paul Brooks, the team will assess how oyster reef restoration could function as a nature-based solution for coastal management.
“This project aims to evaluate how nature-based solutions such as oyster reef restoration can enhance the resilience of our coasts and marine ecosystems,” Brooks said, via a Marine Institute press release. “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.”
The research consortium includes principal investigators Dr Md Salauddin (UCD), Dr José M. Fariñas-Franco (ATU), Dr Annika Clements (QUB) and Dr Nessa O’Connor (TCD). Funding will support five research positions across the participating institutions to expand scientific capacity in marine restoration.
The BRICONS team plans to work with Irish ports, harbour authorities and coastal community groups to establish pilot restoration sites. The aim is to demonstrate how oyster reefs could contribute to sustainable coastal management while supporting Ireland’s commitments under the EU Nature Restoration Law, which requires Member States to submit national restoration plans for native flat oyster reefs.
Dr Niall McDonough, Director of Policy, Innovation and Research Services at the Marine Institute, said the project “exemplifies the strength of North–South collaboration and the value of science in shaping sustainable coastal management.”
He added that restoring native oyster reefs “offers an exciting opportunity to enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem resilience, and deliver real climate action through nature-based solutions.” The Marine Institute said the project reflects growing interest in nature-based coastal protection, combining ecological restoration with climate adaptation goals.
