About Us

Established Since 1979

Tralee Bay, located in County Kerry, on Irelands Wild Atlantic Way, is one of the few self seeding Native Wild Irish Oyster Fisheries found in Europe. The Tralee Bay Oyster fishery is one of the largest self reproducing oyster beds in Western Europe, which is something we work extremely hard at protecting.

Tralee Oyster Fisheries Society Ltd was established / registered in 1979 and had an Oyster Fishery Order vested in it in 1981. Tralee Oyster Fishery Society Ltd is a non profit fishermens co op involving 78 boats and over 200 fishers. Our annual catch ranges from 100 to 300 tonnes per year, depending on the settlement level of the spat / juveniles from 4 years previously. Ensuring the protection of this stock is of the highest priority to us, ensuring we have one of the most sustainable seafood products on the market. Our Season runs from September to April each year.

 

The Fishery

Every morning during the Oyster season, shortly after dawn, the flotilla of oyster boats can be seen leaving their mooring at fenit harbour, to fish for our native wild Irish Oyster. These boats fish the waters and sandy sea beds that have been fished for decades and haul in their bounty. Once their haul is brought onboard, the catch is checked manually, for size and suitability. Only the best are kept for sale, with the remainder returned to maybe be caught another year.

As each boats daily quota is reached, they return to harbour, where the oysters are again graded, bagged and loaded straight onto refrigerated trucks to depuration centres in Ireland, France, Spain and Netherlands. This meets all requirements for the safe preparation of oysters and ensures the Native Wild Irish Oysters you buy at a fish mongers or restaurant are ready to be eaten – raw as nature intended.