For over 200 years, native oysters (Ostrea edulis) have been absent in Dublin Bay. Once abundant along the Irish coast, they thrived in the sheltered estuaries and tidal flats that shaped the city’s maritime life.
Historical records from the 18th and early 19th centuries describe vast oyster beds stretching across the bay. They were a vital food source, a cornerstone of coastal trade and a symbol of Dublin’s connection to the sea. By the mid-1800s, however, the beds had collapsed.
