Report Card – Low dissolved oxygen levels recorded in seawater and some associated physio-chemical readings between the 28th to 31st of July 2023 and the 4th to the 10th of August 2023.

 This report examines STREAM sensor (InSitu AquaTRoll 500) readings in Bannow Bay when some atypically low oxygen readings were recorded (28^th to 31^st of July 2023 and some less significant readings between the 4^th to the 10^th of August 2023).

Strengths:

• Recognition of the issue’s significance for oyster farming and local ecosystems.
• Identification of some factors contributing to low oxygen levels.
• Suggestions for potential short-term and long-term solutions.

Areas for Improvement:

• More in-depth analysis of the direct effects of low oxygen on oyster health and growth.
• Integration of local stakeholders’ perspectives, especially oyster farmers, for a comprehensive outlook.
• Exploration of how low oxygen levels might interact with other environmental stressors.

Full Report