What is the Sea Synergy Oyster Project?
The Sea Synergy Oyster Project (SSOP) was established to study the remaining population of European Native Oysters (Ostrea edulis) and the associated marine biodiversity in the Portmagee Channel, SW Ireland. Through a better understanding of the oysters in the Channel SSOP’s ultimate aim is to undertake an oyster reef restoration project while at the same time raising both locals’ and visitors’ awareness of the significance of both these oysters and the Portmagee Channel in which they live.
Why Ostrea edulis?
O. edulis are filter feeding bivalves. They have two shells, hinged at the base, to protect their soft boneless bodies. To feed they open their shells and pump water across their gills, filtering out microscopic algae and small organic particles from the surrounding water. A single oyster can filter up to a staggering 240 litres of seawater per day!
The larvae of O. edulis like to settle on the surface of live or dead shells in close proximity to adult oysters – preferably on top of them. This results in the formation of complex 3D structures, referred to as oyster reefs, which are very important habitats in their own right for a range of marine species.
O. edulis were once very common in European coastal waters but due to overfishing, disease and the introduction of invasive species its population in UK and Irish waters has declined by 95%.
O. edulis reefs provide many ecosystem services, the most important of which is improved water clarity and quality caused by a substantial population of oysters filtering particles out of the water. This in turn makes photosynthesis easier for algae and plants and improves the health and biodiversity of the surrounding environment. Reef structures also stabilise the sea bed helping reduce coastal erosion and provide shelter, living space and food for many marine organisms.
Why the Portmagee Channel?
The Portmagee Channel in south-west Kerry is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of the important habitats it contains, such as eelgrass and maerl beds, as well as being home to a number of rare and endemic species. For example, the anemone Edwardsia delapiae (named after Kerry’s very own Maude Delap) is not found anywhere else in the world, and the horseshoe worm (Phoronis psammophila) is found nowhere else in Ireland or Britain. It is also home to a small population of Ostrea edulis which contains some of the largest living oysters recorded in Ireland and the UK with one individual measuring 205mm.
Key Findings so far
- 782 live O. edulis were recorded, 17% were over the typical max adult size of 110mm and at least 12% were Juveniles (under 50mm)
- 386 unique species were recorded, 264 were marine species and 112 were terrestrial species
- 23% of recorded marine species also recorded as epibionts, living directly on the oyster shells.
- 654 people have been involved in the project, by attending Snorkel, Shoreline and classroom workshops, contributing as citizen scientists and attending our recent showcase.
How to get involved
- Become a citizen scientist and contribute to our research using iNaturlist
- Help support our work by donating to our GoFundMe
- Join one of our Free Workshops or beach cleans (dates posted on social media)
Our Funders & Supporters
Galway Atlantaquaria Grants for Small Conservation Projects 2023 & 2024. This enabled us to support 3 students of marine science as an intern offering them an invaluable chance to receive training and get first hand experience in conducting fieldwork as part of the SSOP, creating reports and engaging with the local community.
National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) Grant for Small Recording Projects 2023 & 2024. This grant enabled us to purchase equipment, field guides and training necessary to conduct biodiversity and oyster surveys within the channel and running workshops in local schools
Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant 2024. This grant allowed us to gather data to contribute to a biodiversity action plan on the behalf of Portmagee Tidy Towns and restoration plan for the endangered native oyster population in the area. We ran a series of field and classroom based workshops about local biodiversity to encourage the local community to contribute to citizen science.
Portmagee Tidy Towns have supported us by inviting their community to attend workshops, facilitating events and helping us secure funding.
