Native Oyster Reef Restoration Ireland (NORRI)

In order to reinforce the local community’s initiative to restore their historic oyster beds in Counties Wicklow, Wexford and Dublin, Stephen Kavanagh and Anamarija Frankić established Native Oyster Reef Restoration Ireland CLG (https://norri.ie), supported by Wicklow County Council.

The main goal is to restore native oyster populations (Ostrea edulis) and their reef habitats along Ireland’s east coast. NORRI’s educational and outreach activities will take place at the Biomimicry LivingLabs®️ selected sites in Wicklow County and various  harbours along the coastline, including the first outdoor aquarium that will serve as an outdoor classroom.

NORRI proposes integrated, biomimetic habitat restoration by actively restoring oyster reefs together with macro algae kelp habitats along the east coast. NORRI has identified potentially suitable pilot oyster restoration sites and is pursuing efforts to get the necessary permissions to begin work there. NORRI intends to restore the missing oyster reef habitats together with historical kelp forests and their associated biodiversity, which used to thrive together in the Irish Sea.