In June 2024, our restoration activities continued in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo with the restoration of an additional 13 hectares of seabed (equivalent to 24 football pitches!) Working with our partners, Clew Bay Oyster Co-op, we spread 24 tonnes of scallop and oyster shell mix (cultch) over a 13 hectare area in the same vicinity where we started restoration in 2022.  This area is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at the foot of Croagh Patrick in an area of breath-taking beauty. This restoration effort differs from our Dublin Bay project as Clew Bay has a natural brood stock of oysters which spawn every July / August.  The aim of this restoration is to give the fertilised oyster larvae (oyster spat) a helping hand in finding a location to settle on and grow.  Oysters love growing on old shell and other oysters so spreading the cultch is a proven way of attracting the baby oysters to settle, grow and in time reproduce themselves.

The area that we are carrying out this phase of restoration is located in a sheltered part of Clew Bay surrounded by Inishgowla Island to the east and Dorinish Island to the west.  The islands provide shelter from sea surges and are an ideal habitat for seagrass and juvenile oysters to settle and form reefs over time.

The Clew Bay marine restoration project aims to use the native oyster as a ‘key stone’ species to improve biodiversity and promote the growth and propagation of seagrass.  One oyster filters about 190 litres of seawater daily, and seagrass is one of Earth’s most efficient carbon sequesters, locking away carbon up to 35 times faster than rainforest.  Developing oyster reefs also help to give stability to the sea floor allowing sea grass and sea weeds create an ideal spawning habitats for juvenile fish and invertebrates.

Every bag of Green Ocean Coffee sold has directly contributed to the restoration of every square meter of this newly restored area. Thank you to all our customers for supporting our efforts towards sustainability and positive change!