Why Greystones Matters
We often talk about the importance of doing something meaningful and real for the environment rather than just discussing it. This project is exactly that.
Back in 2023, when we started our oyster projects in Dublin Bay, the idea was simple but ambitious: bring native Irish oysters back to waters where they once thrived.
After strong survival and growth rates in and the scaling up of our Dún Laoghaire project we felt ready to take the next step. That next step is Greystones Harbour Marina — our first pilot site in County Wicklow.
Why Native Oysters?
It might sound small, but native oysters are absolute powerhouses. 
Each one can filter up to 190 litres of water a day. That means cleaner water, fewer excess nutrients, and better conditions for marine life. As oyster beds establish, they help encourage the growth of seagrass and seaweed — which provide nursery grounds for fish and act as carbon sinks.
In other words, oysters quietly improve biodiversity, water quality and climate resilience all at once. They’re natural climate champions.
To make sure we’re doing this properly, researchers from the Dublin City University Water Unit, under Professor Fiona Regan, are monitoring oyster health, water quality and biodiversity at each site. This is restoration grounded in science, not guesswork.
Installing the Greystones Pilot
We installed the Greystones pilot project in November 2025 using “oyster gardening” techniques — suspending oysters in protective baskets from marina walkways so we can monitor their development closely.
We deliberately waited a couple of months before holding a launch event. February isn’t exactly ideal for outdoor gatherings in Ireland, but we wanted to give the oysters time to bed in so that introducing them to the Greystones community would feel like a more relaxed affair — for them and for us.
So we chose Friday, February 13th. Unlucky for some.
A Launch in True Irish Style
Planning any outdoor event in Ireland is always a gamble, even more so in February. In the days leading up to the launch, the forecast swung wildly from bright sunshine to heavy showers. As the day approached, it looked like we would be caught in the middle of what felt like a never-ending Atlantic storm.
With sponsors confirmed, press and community invited, local dignitaries attending and a fantastic group of secondary school students from Templecarrig joining us, cancelling wasn’t really an option.
On the day, waves were crashing dramatically over the harbour wall — but somehow, incredibly, the rain held off for the two-hour launch window. Around 60 to 70 people turned up, wrapped up against the wind but full of enthusiasm. They wanted to learn about native Irish oysters, how they work, and what they could mean for Greystones.
The atmosphere was genuinely uplifting. Several people commented on the positive energy and sense of possibility in the crowd. It was one of those moments where you’re reminded how powerful community support can be when people rally behind a project that is trying to solve a real environmental problem.
What This Means
Greystones was once a rich breeding ground for native oysters. This pilot phase will tell us whether those conditions can support a self-sustaining population again.
If successful, it won’t just mean more oysters. It means cleaner water, stronger biodiversity, and a healthier marine ecosystem along the Wicklow coast.
For us at Green Ocean Coffee, this is what it’s all about. Every bag of coffee contributes to projects like this — practical, measurable restoration happening right here in Ireland.
It’s early days for the Greystones oysters. But standing on that harbour wall in the middle of an Atlantic storm, surrounded by people who care deeply about their coastline, it felt like something important had begun.
And that’s worth braving the February weather for.
