Native Oysters

Native oyster reefs were once abundant in European seas but sadly it is estimated that populations have declined by 95% since the 19th century. Now native oyster reefs are now one of the most threatened habitats in Europe.

The key driver behind this huge decline is historic overfishing, however, habitat loss, disease, pollution and invasive non-native species are all contributors. Native oysters are also characterised by a slow growth rate and sporadic recruitment, which further limits their success.

In Northern Ireland, extensive oyster beds are known to have existed in Carlingford Lough, Lough Foyle and Belfast Lough for several hundred years, but most stocks crashed during the late 19th or early 20th century. Now only a small wild population exists in Strangford Lough.

The native oyster is a Priority Species in the UK and Northern Ireland. A Priority Species requires conservation action because of their decline, rarity and importance in an all-Ireland and UK context. It is included in the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species and Habitats for the North-East Atlantic.

According to the Irish Fisheries Commissioner, all native oyster fisheries in Ireland had collapsed by 1903 due to overfishing, pollution and the spread of disease.

However, in the summer of 2020, live native oysters were discovered for the first time in over 100 years in Belfast Lough– evidence that the environmental conditions for re-establishment were right.  To support the natural recovery of the native oyster, Ulster Wildlife installed Northern Ireland's first native oyster nursery in Bangor Marina, in April 2022, funded by the DAERA Environmental Challenge Fund. Similar projects have been established in other parts of the UK. 

A year later and our second native oyster nursery has been installed at Glenarm Marina. The native oyster was once common in and around Glenarm – remnants of old oyster shells can be found along the Glenarm coastline and even seen from the pontoons in the marina.

An oyster nursery is a micro-habitat housing mature oysters that will reproduce and release the next generation of oyster larvae to settle out on the seabed. An individual oyster can release up to 1 million larvae per year! The cages are hung in the water underneath the pontoons, which protects the oysters from predation. 

With funding from DAERA through the Environment Fund, supported by a generous donation from Wilson Resources Ltd, we will be expanding the number of native oyster nurseries in Northern Ireland over the next five years.

Choose sustainable seafood options

Many of the oysters on sale and eaten in the UK and Ireland today are pacific oysters. This is an invasive species, and was brought here intentionally from Japan in the 1970’s following the demise of our native oysters. Many farmed pacific oysters are "triploid" - meaning they are sterile and won't impact on wild populations. It's not entirely failsafe - but they are a more sustainable option. For more information on making good seafood choices, check out our Sustainable Fish City campaign

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