Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan has announced €7.9 million in funding to restore and enhance some of Ireland’s most important marine habitats, including Kerry’s Tralee Bay.
Over the next five years, the Tralee Bay Marine Biodiversity Restoration Project will involve the restoration of sensitive eelgrass meadows and native oyster beds in County Kerry.
The project is funded and overseen by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and is led by University College Cork working with local partners including Tralee Oyster Society and Tralee Bay Hatchery.
The project, which will be based in Tralee Bay Nature Reserve, will benefit wider coastal habitats in Co. Kerry, including Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, Ireland’s first National Marine Park.
"Eelgrass meadows and native oyster reefs provide essential habitats for marine wildlife. They also improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, support fisheries and contribute to climate resilience,” O’Sullivan said.
“This flagship project represents a significant investment in the future of Ireland's coastal ecosystems. Tralee Bay provides a unique opportunity to restore these fragile habitats of national and international importance, by applying on the ground restoration measures with cutting-edge research,”he said.
“By bringing together research expertise from University College Cork with local partners in the Maharees and Tralee Bay, we can create a model that will inform and inspire similar restoration initiatives in Ireland and beyond.”
“Habitat recovery is a key part of our Nature Restoration Plan, and landmark projects like this act as pathfinders for how we do this at scale.”
The Tralee Bay Marine Biodiversity Restoration project integrates scientific research, restoration and community stewardship to support long-term ecosystem recovery and to establish a sustainable and replicable model for coastal restoration.
A central element of the project will be community engagement, with a range of initiatives designed to increase public awareness, foster local stewardship and strengthen community participation in coastal conservation.
"Lasting conservation success depends on people as much as habitats. By working closely with local communities, schools, businesses and stakeholders, we hope to create a lasting legacy of awareness, participation and pride in these remarkable coastal environments,”O’Sullivan said.
The five-year project is expected to begin this August and will run until 2031.
- The project aims to:
- enhance seagrass production, restoration and expansion of existing meadows,
- increase the size and geographical distribution of native oyster beds by developing a consistent oyster seed supply chain,
- support and enhance biodiversity of the overall bay through actions 1 and 2,
- enhance water quality and carbon sequestration through restoration and biodiversity measures
- increase public engagement and awareness of the Tralee Bay System – its unique ecosystem and its contribution to Irelands biodiversity and unique marine systems.
Tralee Bay is adjacent to Páirc Náisiunta na Mara, Ciarraí and is a Statutory Nature Reserve, a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA).
